Taliban’s Internet Shutdown Violates Afghans’ Basic Rights, Says Human Rights Watch

Kokcha News Agency: Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a statement condemning the Taliban’s decision to cut off internet and telecommunication services across Afghanistan. The organization stated that the shutdown has caused significant harm to Afghans’ access to education, business, media, and healthcare services.

HRW emphasized that the blackout violates fundamental human rights and has left millions of Afghans in the dark, unable to communicate, access vital information, or conduct daily activities. The shutdown has particularly impacted women and girls, who were already banned from in-person education and now face further isolation.

The Taliban’s decision to impose the internet blackout has drawn widespread criticism from international organizations and activists. Masih Alinejad, a prominent Iranian activist, called the move a form of “gender apartheid,” while the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urged the Taliban to immediately restore internet access.

Even within the Taliban, there are signs of dissent. Sources told Afghanistan International that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, was “deeply upset” by the decision to shut down the internet, which was reportedly made by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

The shutdown has also disrupted humanitarian operations, with aid organizations struggling to deliver services and refugees unable to receive cash assistance. A UN official told AFP that the blackout has forced aid workers to revert to radio and limited satellite links, severely hampering their ability to operate.

The internet blackout is just one of several restrictive measures imposed by the Taliban this year, including bans on women’s education and employment. These actions have further isolated Afghanistan from the international community and exacerbated the country’s economic and humanitarian crises.