Taliban must stop targeting protesters, journalists-UN

The United Nations (UN) on Friday condemned the Taliban’s treatment of journalists and peaceful protesters since coming to power. The UN called on the Taliban to not use force or arbitrarily detain protestors, and the journalists covering the protests. In a statement the UN body called the Taliban to immediately cease the use of force towards, and the arbitrary detention of, those exercising their right to peaceful assembly and the journalists covering the protests. Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the United Nations human rights office said that there is an obligation to ensure that any use of force in response to protests is a last resort, strictly necessary and proportionate.

UN also cautioned against the use of firearms in situations which do not possess an “imminent threat of death or serious injury". Shamdasani said the rights office had also received credible  reports that a man and a boy were shot dead as Taliban gunmem sought to disperse crowds during national flag-raising ceremonies held last month. ..