The UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan human rights, Richard Bennett, said that he hopes to come to Afghanistan to report “impartially” on the situation in the country.   

Bennett made the remarks in an interview with TOLOnews’ Hamid Bahraam. 

“If the mandate is renewed at the human rights council ... I very much hope to come back to Afghanistan to look further. I hope that the authorities will host me to be able to see more of the country,” Bennett said. 

He said that the institutions which are necessary for an open government have been affected.  

“The kind of checks and balances includes parliament, an open media, a legal and judicial system that is clear and consistent and accessible, a human right commission that can take complaints, and I think a situation where the people can have freedom of expression,” Bennett said.  

The UN rapporteur said that there is a trend “towards a situation where it is not easy or not possible without penalty or threat to express a view that is different from that of the de facto authority.” 

A human rights defender said that if the situation continues as now, Afghanistan will be plunged into crisis.  

“If the situation continues like this, and the Taliban don’t accept the criticism and justice, the situation of Afghanistan will deteriorate,” said Tahira Nasiri, a human rights activist.  

He called on the Islamic Emirate to hold those who are violating human rights accountable.  

But the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly said that human rights are ensured in Afghanistan, based on Islamic values.