Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan said Tuesday that the Taliban “will not remain in power forever,” warning that the Taliban’s ongoing repression amounts to crimes against humanity that demand a global response.
Bennett, who spoke virtually at a Human Rights Watch event examining conditions in Afghanistan ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Taliban takeover, said the country’s turbulent history suggests the current rulers’ grip on power is unlikely to last.
“There is no need to accept that the Taliban have come to stay,” Bennett said. “Given Afghanistan’s history of repeated political change, that seems unlikely. What we are seeking are peaceful transitions and moves toward greater respect for human rights.”
Bennett said the Taliban’s sweeping restrictions on women and girls, suppression of dissent, and arbitrary detentions should be seen as international crimes. “What is happening in Afghanistan is a crime against humanity — a crime against all of humanity — and it should shock our conscience and compel all countries, not just Western ones, to act,” he said.
He added that he will present his latest findings on Afghanistan at the UN General Assembly later this year, though the Taliban continue to deny him access to the country. Bennett also cautioned that efforts to grant the Taliban recognition — including moves by Russia — should be firmly tied to verified improvements in human rights.
“At the UN, the Credentials Committee has so far declined to recognize the Taliban, and there is no sign of any shift,” he said. “My message to that committee is clear: there must be no normalization, let alone recognition, until there are significant, measurable, and verified improvements in the human rights situation.”
Human Rights Watch researcher Fereshta Abbasi, who also spoke at the event, reiterated calls for the establishment of an independent investigative mechanism on Afghanistan to support Bennett’s mandate and document rights violations.
“Currently, no one in Afghanistan is identifying any perpetrators. John and the special rapporteur both mentioned that the ICC remains the only institution that have identified members perpetrators,” she said.
The discussion highlighted how, nearly four years into Taliban rule, Afghanistan faces a worsening humanitarian crisis alongside intensifying repression. Rights groups warn that without sustained international pressure and accountability, the situation could deteriorate further.
The Taliban have not issued an official response to Bennett’s latest remarks. They have consistently rejected accusations of widespread abuses.
