{"id":2328657,"date":"2024-08-21T17:54:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T21:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-bans-un-special-rapporteur-from-traveling-to-afghanistan-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-21T17:56:21","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T21:56:21","slug":"taliban-bans-un-special-rapporteur-from-traveling-to-afghanistan-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-bans-un-special-rapporteur-from-traveling-to-afghanistan-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Taliban bans UN special rapporteur from traveling to Afghanistan &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftaliban-bans-un-special-rapporteur-from-traveling-to-afghanistan-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2328657&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Taliban has barred Richard Bennett, the United \u200dNations <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nobel-peace-prize-the-most-controversial-winners\/\" title=\"Nobel Peace Prize: The Most Controversial Winners\">special rapporteur<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/us-womens-soccer-team-kneels-for-anthem-wears-black-lives-matter\/\" title=\"US Women&#039;s Soccer Team Kneels for Anthem, Wears &#039;Black Lives Matter&#039;\">human rights<\/a> in Afghanistan, \u2063from\u2062 entering the country. Bennett, who was appointed in April 2022 to monitor human rights violations by \u2062the Taliban, described the blockade as a significant setback and a troubling sign regarding the Taliban&#8217;s \u2062willingness to engage with the UN and\u200b the international community. <\/p>\n<p>A Taliban \u2062spokesperson claimed Bennett spreads propaganda and expressed distrust towards him, stating that he previously exaggerated issues in Afghanistan. In his\u200d response, Bennett urged the Taliban to reverse their decision and highlighted the diminishing rights and freedoms of\u2062 Afghans, particularly for women and girls, since the Taliban regained power in August \u20642021, coinciding with the U.S. military&#8217;s withdrawal.<\/p>\n<p>Bennett&#8217;s remarks come as he and other UN officials recognized the third anniversary of the Taliban&#8217;s takeover, noting the regime&#8217;s oppressive nature \u2063and its rejection of fundamental principles \u200dof justice and equality. This context reflects ongoing concerns about human rights in Afghanistan following two \u200ddecades\u200b of U.S. military presence that ended under the administrations of both former\u2064 President\u2063 Trump and \u200cPresident Biden.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Taliban bans UN special rapporteur from traveling to Afghanistan<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1651032\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/taliban\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Taliban<\/a> barred <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/united-nations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>United Nations<\/a> special rapporteur Richard Bennett from entering <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/afghanistan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Afghanistan<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Bennett was appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council in April 2022 and assumed the position a month later, nearly a year after the Taliban rose to power in August 2021. He was appointed to track any infringement by the Taliban on Afghans&rsquo; human rights.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Taliban&rsquo;s public announcement that they will no longer grant me access to Afghanistan is a step backwards and sends a concerning signal about their engagement with the United Nations and the international community on human rights,&rdquo; Bennett said.<\/p>\n<p>Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, accused Bennett of spreading &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-is-ramping-up-censorship-efforts-ahead-of-2024-election\/\" title=\"FBI Is Ramping Up Censorship Efforts Ahead Of 2024 Election\">propaganda&#038;rdquo<\/a>; about Afghanistan and told <a href=\"https:\/\/tolonews.com\/afghanistan-190324\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"TOLO News\">TOLO News<\/a>, a local outlet, that Bennett &ldquo;is not someone we trust. He is not in Afghanistan, and he is no longer permitted to come here. He used to exaggerate minor issues and propagate them.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Bennett, who has traveled to Afghanistan several times but does not live there, urged the Taliban to reverse its decision.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, Bennett released a statement with several other UN officials recognizing the third anniversary of the Taliban&rsquo;s takeover of Afghanistan and their reversals of several rights and freedoms.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Over the past three years, the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls, have been subjected to an appalling and intensifying attack on their rights and freedoms by a regime that lacks legitimacy and inclusivity, quashes all forms of dissent, represses civil society and the media, and has shown a flagrant disregard for the principles of justice, non-discrimination, equality, and the rule of law,&rdquo; the letter reads.<\/p>\n<p>The Taliban&rsquo;s return to power in Afghanistan three years ago, which included bringing down the U.S.-backed Ghani government, coincided with the U.S. military&rsquo;s withdrawal from the country after two decades. Both former President Donald Trump, who is running for reelection, and President Joe Biden wanted to end the U.S. military&rsquo;s presence in Afghanistan, against the advice of several military leaders.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I thought it would be a matter of months, not weeks, but I thought the collapse of the Afghans was inevitable,&rdquo; retired Gen. Frank McKenzie said on the <em>School of War<\/em> podcast this week. &ldquo;That was my opinion from the beginning. &hellip; And it was pretty clear to me that&rsquo;s what would happen.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump made a deal with the Taliban to end the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, and Biden, once he became president, moved forward with the withdrawal of forces. The U.S. war in Afghanistan, which began in the aftermath of 9\/11, ended on Aug. 30, 2021, 20 years later.<\/p>\n<p>McKenzie, in the appearance, was critical of the State Department&rsquo;s delayed initiation of a noncombatant emergency operation to get at-risk Afghans, Americans, and others out of the country given the Taliban&rsquo;s rise to power.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When President Biden actually made the decision to go to effectively zero in April [2021], we did not, at that time, make a similar decision to bring our embassy, our American citizens, and our at-risk Afghans out,&rdquo; McKenzie said. &ldquo;Remember, that decision to come out was made in April. By July, we were out. The military power was out. We had an embassy of still well over 1,000 people, all our citizens and all our at-risk Afghans left in Afghanistan, and 700 forces, more or less, on the ground to defend the embassy and [Hamid Karzai International Airport] in Kabul, and nothing else, but all these people were still there. The noncombatant evacuation operation was declared on 15 August.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With the Taliban in charge, ISIS-K, the Afghan branch of the Islamic State group, as well as al-Qaida have been working to reconstitute. The U.S. has lost much of its ability to track terrorist groups in Afghanistan without a physical presence in the country, according to McKenzie, who said, &ldquo;Our ability to actually look into Afghanistan, [to] understand what goes on in Afghanistan, is such a small percentage of what it used to be that is effectively zero.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>No country has recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government since they seized control.<\/p>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1651032\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1651032\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Taliban has prohibited United Nations special rapporteur Richard Bennett from entering Afghanistan, as announced on Wednesday. Bennett was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in April 2022 and took on his role a month later, almost a year after the Taliban regained control in August 2021. His mandate involves monitoring human rights violations by the Taliban against Afghan citizens. In response to the travel ban, Bennett expressed concern that this decision represents a regression and indicates a troubling stance regarding the Taliban&#8217;s engagement with both the UN and international community on human rights issues. Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban, accused Bennett of disseminating &#8220;propaganda&#8221; about Afghanistan and stated that he is not trusted by them; thus, he is no longer allowed to enter the country. Although Bennett has visited Afghanistan multiple times without residing there permanently, he called on the Taliban to reconsider their decision. Recently, he joined other UN officials in marking three years since the Taliban&#8217;s takeover of Afghanistan while highlighting significant rollbacks of rights and freedoms during this period. The statement noted that Afghans\u2014particularly women and girls\u2014have faced severe attacks on their rights under an illegitimate regime that suppresses dissent and disregards justice principles. The return of the Taliban to power coincided with America&#8217;s withdrawal from Afghanistan after two decades of military presence following 9\/11; both former President Trump and current President Biden sought an end to U.S. involvement despite warnings from military leaders about potential consequences. Retired General Frank McKenzie remarked that it was clear early on that Afghan forces would collapse quickly once U.S troops withdrew completely\u2014a process initiated without timely evacuation plans for at-risk individuals still in Afghanistan when Biden decided to reduce troop levels significantly in April 2021<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2671,"featured_media":2328658,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24102637165399-scaled-1024x682.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[7228,3764,23312],"class_list":["post-2328657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-afghanistan","tag-taliban","tag-un"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AP24102637165399-scaled-1024x682.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328657","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2671"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2328657"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2328657\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2328658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2328657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2328657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2328657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}