Former members of Afghanistan`s army/ file photo

At least 14 members of Afghanistan`s former security forces were killed between October and December last year, while dozens more were arbitrarily detained or tortured, the United Nations said, highlighting continued human rights violations under Taliban rule despite pledges of a general amnesty.

In its latest quarterly report released Sunday, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said it documented at least 28 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention and at least seven cases of torture or ill-treatment of former government officials and former members of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) during the three-month period.

UNAMA said some of those targeted had recently returned to the country from Iran and Pakistan. In one incident on Dec. 9, two men with links to the former government were shot dead by unknown assailants in Parwan province after returning from Iran. One had worked for the former interior ministry, while the other was a relative of a former deputy police chief, the report said.

The Taliban, who seized power in August 2021, have repeatedly said they granted a general amnesty to former officials and security personnel. However, UNAMA and international rights groups have continued to document killings, detentions and abuse of people linked to the former government.

Public executions and corporal punishment

The report said Taliban authorities continued to carry out public executions and corporal punishment during the reporting period.

On Oct. 16, a man convicted of murder was publicly executed in a sports stadium in Badghis province, while on Dec. 2 another man convicted of killing 13 members of a single family was executed in a stadium in Khost province. In both cases, a family member of the victims carried out the execution by gunshot, UNAMA said, noting that one of the executioners was reportedly under 18.

These brought the total number of judicially sanctioned public executions since the Taliban takeover to 12, according to the UN.

UNAMA also documented judicial corporal punishment against at least 287 people, including 30 women, three boys and one girl. Punishments included public floggings, often alongside prison sentences. In one case in Zabul province, 19 people were flogged publicly after being convicted of offences including theft, adultery and same-sex relations.

Restrictions on media and expression

The UN said restrictions on freedom of expression intensified, particularly for media outlets. Several television stations were ordered to stop broadcasting images of humans or animals, while Shamshad Television in Kabul was temporarily shut down in October without explanation.

In Khost province, officials from Taliban departments stopped appearing in video interviews with journalists from December, further limiting public access to information.

Morality enforcement

UNAMA said the Taliban`s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice continued to enforce morality rules aggressively. Between October and December, the UN recorded at least 520 arbitrary arrests and detentions and 50 cases of ill-treatment linked to enforcement of rules on beards, dress codes, music and prayer attendance.

In Nangarhar province, officials burned at least 657 musical instruments confiscated during inspections as part of a ban on music, the report said.

Women`s rights

The UN said restrictions on women and girls remained severe. Since early September, Afghan women, including UN staff, have been barred from entering UN premises nationwide. By the end of December, 115 days had passed without Afghan women being allowed access to UN offices, UNAMA said.

Women and girls remained banned from higher education and medical training, and women were excluded from national medical graduation exams held in November. In Herat, Taliban officials enforced strict dress requirements, at times preventing women without full coverings from accessing hospitals, markets and public transport.

UNAMA also documented restrictions on women`s freedom of movement, including preventing women from entering markets, exercising outdoors or travelling without a male guardian.

Gender-based violence and detention

The report recorded multiple cases of gender-based violence, including forced marriages, despite Taliban decrees prohibiting such practices. In one case, a girl under 18 was detained after refusing a forced marriage and remained in custody, UNAMA said.

While Taliban authorities announced amnesties and sentence reductions for thousands of prisoners, UNAMA said arrests continued to outpace releases. The prison population stood at between 30,000 and 32,000 people as of early November.

UNAMA said it would continue monitoring the human rights situation, warning that ongoing abuses - particularly against former security personnel, women and the media - continued to undermine accountability and protections in Afghanistan.