Human Rights Watch: Taliban must protect Hazaras and minorities at risk

The Human Rights Watch said in a report on Tuesday, that after the Taliban took over, ISIS took responsibility for 13 attacks against Hazaras, resulting in 700 deaths and injuries.

The Human Rights Watch report further states that ISIS attacks on Hazaras and other religious minorities violate international humanitarian laws or the laws of war, which are still applicable in Afghanistan. They emphasised that deliberate attacks on civilians are war crimes.

Human Rights Watch has added that such attacks, beyond the immediate loss of life, cause long-term economic problems, permanent damage to physical and mental health, and lead to the creation of new obstacles on the way to education and public life.

Freshta Abbasi, a researcher at the Afghanistan Department of Human Rights Watch, said: “Since the Taliban took over, ISIS-affiliated fighters have carried out numerous brutal attacks against members of the Hazara community while they were going to school, work, or praying; Without a serious response from the Taliban authorities”.

Human Rights Watch said in its report that the Khorasan branch of ISIS and other armed groups must fully comply with international humanitarian laws and stop all attacks against civilians.

Human Rights Watch has emphasised that Taliban authorities must protect at-risk minorities, including Hazaras and Shiites, and ensure their rights to access education and worship without fear.

This is in response to the recent months, especially in the month of Muharram this year, ISIS has carried out several explosive attacks on the Hazaras and Shiites in Afghanistan, in which many people were killed and injured.