According to a representative for the administration, the Taliban have forbidden special rapporteur Richard Bennett of the UN from visiting Afghanistan, accusing him of “spreading propaganda” to local broadcaster Tolo.
In 2022, Bennett was designated by the UN Human Rights Council to oversee the state of human rights in Afghanistan subsequent to the Taliban’s takeover in the preceding year.
Bennett is stationed outside of Afghanistan but has traveled there multiple times to conduct study on the situation. Bennett has previously stated that the Taliban’s abuse of women and girls may constitute a crime against humanity.
In a statement, Bennett called on the Taliban to change their mind and pledged to keep interacting with Afghans both inside and outside of their borders.
