3.7. Critics of the Taliban including protesters, activists, human rights defenders, and human rights lawyers

COMMON ANALYSIS
Last update: June 2026

This profile addresses the topic of perceived criticism of the Taliban. It also refers to individuals who engage in activities aimed at promoting, protecting or enforcing human rights and fundamental freedoms (such as freedom of expression or the right to education, for example teachers advocating for women and girls’ education). It encompasses, inter alia, human rights defenders, human rights lawyers, and protesters publicly advocating for human rights. It also includes criticism expressed via social media. Situation of family members is also addressed.

Since the Taliban takeover, the space for civil society in Afghanistan has drastically shrunk, with many organisations closing, suspending activities, or limiting their work to humanitarian and development efforts under strict restrictions. Human rights defenders have been targeted, forcing many to flee, while those who remain are unable to operate openly. In the immediate aftermath of the takeover, protests led largely by women’s rights activists were violently suppressed, and broader opposition mostly disappeared.

Criticism of the de facto authorities is not tolerated and may attract retaliation. Even moderate dissent, including through media and online platforms, can lead to reprisals, creating a climate of fear and widespread self-censorship. A 2022 ban on defamation and unproven criticism of officials further restricted freedom of expression. Repression intensified in 2025 with the adoption of stricter policies. The GDI plays a central role in suppressing dissent, while the authorities rely on intelligence gathering, surveillance, and community reporting to identify critics, leading many individuals to go into hiding or flee the country. 

Additionally, in 2026, the de facto government issued a ‘Criminal Procedure Code for Courts’. Although there is currently no available information about its implementation, it is reported that the code authorises the de facto authorities to kill opponents, critics, and human rights activists. It also prescribes six months imprisonment and corporal punishments for those insulting the Taliban leaders. Those who witness or have knowledge of “subversive” meetings and activities of “opponents of the regime”, but do not report to the Taliban are considered as ‘criminals’ and may be sentenced to two years imprisonment. 

Acts to which human rights defenders, including human rights lawyers, activists, protesters and other critics of the Taliban could be exposed are of such severe nature that they would amount to persecution. Human rights defenders and activists have been subjected to extrajudicial killings, torture and other ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and destruction of property. Arrests, disappearances and torture have been used to silence and deter civil engagement, with non-violent opponents reportedly targeted in a systematic manner. Since February 2023, there have been reports of increased surveillance and targeting of LGBTIQ+ activists and community members, including through arrest, violence and other forms of humiliation. There are moreover no protection mechanisms or laws in place for human rights defenders under the de facto government, which controls and monitors ‘any remnant of civil society’.

The de facto authorities have also violently suppressed protests, including those related to women’s rights, through arrests and, in some cases, the use of live ammunition against protesters. Protesters have reportedly faced torture, including sexual violence, imprisonment, threats against family members, and other forms of severe physical and psychological ill-treatment.

Individuals who criticise the Taliban online may be confronted with threats, house searches, arbitrary arrests and detentions. In the first half of 2025 numerous arrests were documented of individuals posting critical content on social media or for illegitimate activities online, and content creation. Afghans speaking out against the Taliban ‘face arbitrary arrest, physical and sexual violence, arbitrary and indefinite detention’, as well as torture and other ill-treatment. Some critics have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and detention, harassment, intimidation, and violence. 

Harassment, intimidation and detention have also been reported against individuals, including teachers, advocating for girls’ education and modern education. A high school teacher was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy after making comments on modern education. 

Human rights lawyers in Afghanistan reportedly face a dire situation, characterised by significant risks and hardship in the exercise of their profession, and have been targeted due to their role in defending human rights.

Family members of perceived critics have also been targeted through threats, detention, and reprisals. Sources report that relatives of, inter alia, human rights defenders and activists have faced threats, intimidation, detention, and other forms of retaliation aimed at silencing critics. Some family members have been arrested together with women activists, including due to the fact that men may be held accountable for women’s activities. 

Where well-founded fear of persecution is substantiated for individuals under this profile, persecution is highly likely to be for reasons of political opinion and/or religion, as being a human rights defender, activist, protester, (perceived as) critical of the Taliban would be seen as opposing their ‘theocratic police state’.