Even after the Taliban took power, violence in Afghanistan continued. From August 2021 to May 2023, the UN mission UNAMA there recorded almost 1,100 dead and almost 2,700 injured in the country on the Hindu Kush. According to a report, most of the victims were in bomb attacks in mosques or in public places. Above all, the terrorist organization “Islamic State” (IS) and other unspecified “anti-government elements” are responsible for this.
According to the United Nations, the Shiite Hasara minority, who have been the target of attacks in the mostly Sunni country for years, are particularly affected. IS, which is at enmity with the Taliban, regards members of the Shia faith as apostates. At least 63 civilians were killed and more than 360 injured in attacks on the Taliban.
UNAMA also complains that the radical Islamic Taliban, who had repeatedly carried out bomb attacks themselves before taking power, systematically prevented journalists from reporting on attacks. Media professionals were arbitrarily arrested and mistreated. The number of victims published by the Taliban authorities are often “unrealistic”.
When they took power, the Islamists promised to ensure more security after decades of war. At the same time, however, they massively restricted civil liberties; the rights of women and girls in particular were increasingly curtailed. So far, no country in the world has given official recognition to the Taliban government, which also persecutes members of civil society.
Admission program for those at risk starts again
Entry into Germany via the federal admission program for endangered Afghans is now possible again. As the Foreign Office confirmed on Monday, the necessary visas will be issued in Islamabad, Pakistan. At the end of March, the federal government temporarily stopped issuing visas as part of the admissions program. The reason given was references to possible attempts at abuse. In future, those affected will be questioned by members of the German security authorities.
Specifically, the program is about protecting people who are in danger in Afghanistan because of their commitment to human rights or their work in the judiciary, politics or the media. It is planned that 1,000 people who are particularly at risk will come to Germany on a permanent basis every month.
jj/as (dpa, afp, epd)
Source: DW
