Massive Human Rights Violations Against Hazaras in Balkhab: Reports

The Taliban have unlawfully and extrajudicially executed civilians for being Hazaras after breaking the lines of the local forces led by Mawlawi Mehdi in Balkhab district, Sar-e-Pul province.

According to video clips obtained by Zarin TV on Wednesday (June 29th), Taliban forces in Balkhab district have killed civilians, including miners and shepherds, after interrogating them and noticing that they are Hazaras.

The footages, which have apparently been recorded by Taliban members, show a Taliban fighter questioning a civilian about his ethnicity. The Taliban fighter kills the person immediately after noticing that he is a Hazara.

Footages of civilian casualties and war crimes being committed by the Taliban are going viral as human rights defenders have expressed concerns over human rights abuses in Balkhab district.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) announced on Wednesday (June 29th) that it was investigating the civilian casualties in the Balkhab district of Sar-e-Pul province.