In a scathing indictment of the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, United Nations human rights experts have castigated the group for its treatment of LGBTQ and intersex individuals, as well as other marginalized groups. Victor Madrigal-Borloz, an independent U.N. expert on LGBTQ and intersex issues, along with other signatories, released a statement denouncing the systematic erosion of human rights since the Taliban seized power two years ago. The statement highlighted a disturbing pattern of summary executions, arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced displacement, impacting not only LGBTQ+ persons but also women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and more.
The Taliban’s assurances of temporary restrictions on education and other rights have proven hollow, as reports from the ground paint a grim picture of increased segregation and persecution. The group’s recapture of Afghanistan in 2021 marked a stark turning point, with fears of intensified repression and violence among LGBTQI+ individuals. Many were forced into hiding, while others fled the country to evade Taliban capture. These vulnerable individuals faced heightened threats, attacks, and discrimination from both strangers and family members.
The State Department’s 2022 human rights report underscores the gravity of the situation. It details the Taliban’s criminalization of consensual same-sex sexual activity, enforced through violence, intimidation, and even targeted killings. The Taliban’s interpretation of sharia law includes the possibility of the death penalty for homosexuality. Further damning evidence comes from Outright International and Human Rights Watch, whose report recounted harrowing experiences of LGBTQ and intersex Afghans. These stories include instances of violent abuse, such as a transgender woman who was beaten, raped, and publicly humiliated by the Taliban.
As Afghanistan’s LGBTQ and intersex communities continue to endure unfathomable hardship, the international community remains united in condemnation of the Taliban’s human rights abuses. With concern mounting over the persistent persecution of marginalized groups, urgent efforts are underway to shed light on these atrocities and advocate for justice and equality on a global scale.