On the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared, Amnesty International has stated that Afghanistan has the highest rate of forced disappearances in the world.
In a report published for this occasion, the organization noted that Afghanistan has one of the highest numbers of forcibly disappeared individuals in the region since the onset of conflicts in the 1970s.
The report highlights that the history of conflicts in this country has led to widespread forced disappearances in recent years. It further mentions that the trend of forcibly disappearing citizens has continued since the return of the interim government to power in August 2021.
Amnesty International emphasized that the current government, as the rulers of this land, uses forced disappearances as a tool to suppress dissenting voices, including journalists, human rights defenders, women protesting against their stringent policies, and others perceived as opponents to the regime.
The report calls on the current government to immediately cease the use of forced disappearances and to release those detained. The organization also stated that those responsible for the egregious crime of forced disappearance must be brought to justice.
Additionally, Human Rights Watch reported that Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of forced disappearances in the world since the communist coup in 1978, with tens of thousands having disappeared after being detained by state or militia forces.
The report states that forced disappearance is considered a serious international crime, and as long as the fate of missing individuals remains unknown and their places of detention are unclear, this crime continues.
Human Rights Watch noted that victims include hundreds of members of the previous government’s security forces, many of whom were likely executed shortly after their arrest, as well as women who participated in protests and have been held in detention for weeks.
It is worth mentioning that August 30 is recognized as the International Day of the Disappeared, and this day is commemorated around the world in various ways to honor the victims of this crime.
