April 24, 2024 02:04 (IST)
Afghanistan: UN condemns mutilation of voters in western province
New York, Jun 16 (IBNS): The top United Nations official in Afghanistan on Sunday strongly condemned what appears to be punishment doled out by the Taliban to nearly a dozen of people who had their index fingers cut off after voting in the presidential run-off.
“Like millions of their countrymen and women, these ordinary Afghans were exercising their fundamental right to determine the future path of their country through voting and not through violence and intimidation,” the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Ján Kubiš, said in a statement.
He added that by voting, they had already defeated “those who promote terror and violence”.
The 11 victims, who were attacked after casting ballots in the western province of Herat, were interviewed by human rights monitors from the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan (UNAMA). A finger dipped in ink is proof that the person voted, and meant to prevent voters from casting more than one ballot.
Kubiš, who heads UNAMA, said such “inhuman cruelty against Afghan civilians” are manifestations of weakness and desperation.
“They know they have lost the support of the Afghan people,” he added.
In Sunday's statement, UNAMA reiterated that attacks directed against civilians, including mutilations, are serious violations of international humanitarian law which parties to the armed conflict – including all anti-Government elements – must uphold.
About 60 per cent of the country's 12 million eligible voters turned out to vote on Saturday, according to initial estimates from the Independent Election Commission.
In a statement after the voting ended, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon lauded the participation of men and women across the country for demonstrating their commitment to shaping the future of their country and to rejecting violence and intimidation.
[Afghans across the country's 34 provinces are taking part in historic elections. Photo: Jawad Jalali/UNAMA (file photo)]
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Saudi national kidnapped in Pakistan Tue, Apr 23 2024
UK, Germany detain suspected Chinese spies Tue, Apr 23 2024
Navy helicopters collide mid-air in Malaysia, 10 crew members die Tue, Apr 23 2024
Independent review panel releases final report on UNRWA Tue, Apr 23 2024
Thousands of children killed or maimed by explosive weapons in populated areas: UNICEF Tue, Apr 23 2024
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for UN 2.0 to tackle 21st century challenges Tue, Apr 23 2024
Antonio Guterres upholds UNRWA as a ‘lifeline’ following receipt of independent panel’s report Tue, Apr 23 2024