Afghanistan – CounterVortex https://countervortex.org Resisting Humanity's Downward Spiral Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:51:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 https://countervortex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/newsflash_logo-1-300x300.png Afghanistan – CounterVortex https://countervortex.org 32 32 New Taliban criminal code threatens women, minorities https://countervortex.org/blog/new-taliban-criminal-code-threatens-women-minorities/ https://countervortex.org/blog/new-taliban-criminal-code-threatens-women-minorities/#respond Mon, 09 Mar 2026 03:16:08 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=25131 condemned the recently adopted "Criminal Procedure Regulation for the Courts" in Afghanistan, saying that the legislation violates the rights of women, girls and minority groups in the country. Among critical aspects of the new law is its decriminalization of domestic violence in cases where a woman does not actually have visible injuries or broken bones (Article 32), and its imposition of a three-month prison sentence for a woman who undertakes to visit relatives without permission from her husband and does not comply with a court order to return home (Article 34). Under Article 34, women and girls in abusive situations will have less recourse to seek refuge with family, Amnesty found. Article 26 also officially designates Shia Muslims, who make up some 15% of the population, as "heretical." (Photo: ArmyAmber/Pixabay)]]> Amnesty International on March 6 condemned the recently adopted “Criminal Procedure Regulation for the Courts” (De Mahakumu Jazaai Osulnama) in Afghanistan, saying that the legislation violates the rights of women, girls and minority groups in the country.

Commenting on the severity of human rights violations effectively sanctioned by law under this new regulation, Amnesty International’s South Asia director Smriti Singh stated: “The regulation makes an already repressive legal system even more draconian. Women and girls are, of course, among the most affected, with provisions that normalize domestic violence and place even greater restrictions on their movement and autonomy.”

Among critical aspects of the new law is its decriminalization of domestic violence in cases where a woman does not actually have visible injuries or broken bones (Article 32), and its imposition of a three-month prison sentence for a woman who undertakes to visit relatives without permission from her husband and does not comply with a court order to return home (Article 34). Under Article 34, women and girls in abusive situations will have less recourse to seek refuge with family, Amnesty found.

Amnesty emphasized that the provision essentially isolates victims of abuse, and strips away their primary support systems, leaving them with no viable alternative but to remain in dangerous environments.

Additionally, the Taliban-imposed regulation not only discriminates on the basis of gender, but also marginalizes those who follow different religious beliefs, or are from a disadvantaged socioeconomic background.

Taliban policy divides the populace of Afghanistan into four different categories: religious scholars (ulama), the elite (ashraf, such as traditional tribal elders), the middle class, and the lower class. When the same crime is committed by individuals from different social classes, the type and severity of the punishment may vary, with scholars often only given “advice,” whereas offenders from the lower class are subjected to corporal punishment.

Statistics indicate that that about 15% of the population in Afghanistan are Shia Muslims, a group that routinely faces religious persecution from authorities. Fears surrounding their safety have only intensified in recent years. Article 26 and Article 2, Clause 8, of the regulation, which designate Shia Muslims as heretical, have served to compound the climate of fear and sectarian tension.

Alarmingly, the regulation uses the term “slave” (ghulam) as a legal category in several sections, raising concerns that the regulation aims to legitimize slavery. Freedom from slavery is recognized as a cornerstone of international human rights principles.

This latest legal development comes after a series of internationally condemned decrees by the Taliban government which have set women’s rights back by decades, effectively constituting gender apartheid.

From JURIST, March 7. Used with permission. Internal links added.

Note: Most Shi’ite Muslims in Afghanistan are members of the Hazara ethnic minority.

See our last report on the anti-woman crackdown in Afghanistan.

Photo: ArmyAmber/Pixabay

]]> https://countervortex.org/blog/new-taliban-criminal-code-threatens-women-minorities/feed/ 0 Pakistan declares ‘open war’ on Afghanistan https://countervortex.org/blog/pakistan-declares-open-war-on-afghanistan/ https://countervortex.org/blog/pakistan-declares-open-war-on-afghanistan/#comments Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:13:42 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=25111 open war" on Kabul. Afghan forces fired on military bases across the border in Pakistan, reportedly using drones. Pakistan retaliated, striking what it said were military targets in Kabul and several border provinces. Afghanistan's Islamic Emirate government said its attacks were a response to earlier Pakistani air-strikes that killed at least 13 civilians in Nangarhar province. Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of harboring fighters from the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—accused of being behind recent attacks in Islamabad and Peshawar. Afghan Minister of Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani said the "doors for dialogue" remain open but insisted that if Afghanistan continues to be attacked, it will respond. (Map: Google)]]> Violence has once again broken out between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with Islamabad declaring “open war” on Kabul. Late on Feb. 26, Afghan forces fired on military bases across the border in Pakistan, reportedly using drones. Pakistan retaliated early overnight on Feb. 27, bombing what it said were military and infrastructure targets in Kabul and several border provinces. Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate government said its attacks were a response to Pakistani airstrikes on Feb. 21 and 22 that reportedly killed at least 13 civilians in Nangarhar province. Pakistan accuses the Taliban-led government of harboring fighters from the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—accused of being behind recent attacks in Islamabad and Peshawar. Afghan Minister of Interior Sirajuddin Haqqani said the “doors for dialogue” remain open but insisted that if Afghanistan continues to be attacked, it will respond. Iran, a mutual neighbor, has offered to mediate between the two sides. Türkiye and Qatar helped to forge a fragile ceasefire after a previous flare-up in October.

From The New Humanitarian, Feb. 27. Internal links added.

Map: Google

]]> https://countervortex.org/blog/pakistan-declares-open-war-on-afghanistan/feed/ 2 UN condemns ‘alarming’ global increase in executions https://countervortex.org/blog/un-condemns-alarming-global-increase-in-executions/ https://countervortex.org/blog/un-condemns-alarming-global-increase-in-executions/#respond Tue, 27 Jan 2026 19:24:39 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=25047 concern over a "sharp hike" in the number of executions globally in 2025. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said his office "monitored an alarming increase in the use of the capital punishment in 2025, especially for offences not meeting the 'most serious crimes' threshold required under international law, the continued execution of people convicted of crimes committed as children, as well as persistent secrecy around executions." The increase primarily came from executions for drug-related offenses in a small number of retentionist states. These are countries that continue to retain capital punishment, as opposed to the growing number of abolitionist states. which do not employ the death penalty. (Photo: ICHRI)]]> The UN Human Rights Office raised alarm Jan. 19 over a “sharp hike” in the number of executions globally in 2025. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk articulated the report’s key concerns, stating:

My Office monitored an alarming increase in the use of the capital punishment in 2025, especially for offences not meeting the “most serious crimes” threshold required under international law, the continued execution of people convicted of crimes committed as children, as well as persistent secrecy around executions.

This threshold is established by Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights. The increase primarily came from executions for drug-related offenses in a small number of retentionist states. These are countries that continue to retain capital punishment, as opposed to the growing number of abolitionist states. which do not employ the death penalty.

Türk stressed that the death penalty does not function as an effective crime prevention tool, and can kill innocent people. He further emphasized the serious implications for marginalized groups: “In practice, the death penalty is also often applied arbitrarily and discriminatorily, in violation of fundamental principles of equality before the law.”

The report specifically addressed the conduct of several countries, including Iran. The UN estimated that at least 1,500 individuals were executed in Iran in 2025—at least 47% for drug offenses. Türk said this figure suggests a “systemic use of capital punishment as a tool of State intimidation.” Iran Human Rights Monitor reported similar concerns in December, stating that “political death sentences” have especially targeted ethnic minorities, including Kurds and Baloch.

Saudi Arabia also had a high figure, with at least 356 executions—78% for drug-related offenses. At least two of those executed were killed for offenses committed as minors, which raises concerns over the rights of children under international law.

Joey Shea, Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch, described a “record surge” in executions in the country, and called for an international response. “Governments should immediately press Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s authorities to halt all executions,” she said.

Forty-seven executions occurred in the US in 2025—the highest number in 16 years. Experts have continued to express concerns about “torture or cruel punishment” implications of the expanding use of gas asphyxiation, introduced by some states in 2024.

Türk also discussed Afghanistan, Somalia, Singapore, China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Belarus.

The report did note some “encouraging steps” taken last year. For example, the Constitutional Court in Kyrgyzstan upheld a prohibition on the death penalty, ruling that an attempt to reintroduce it was unconstitutional. Temur Shakirow, director of the International Court of Justice Europe & Central Asia Programme, praised the measure, saying:

Justice systems in all countries are vulnerable to error or abuse, and the death penalty makes any such failure irreversible. Maintaining the abolition of capital punishment therefore remains essential to the effective protection of the right to life.

Türk called on all retentionist states to cease executions, downgrade all current death sentences, and begin to take steps towards abolition.

From JURIST, Jan. 19. Used with permission.

Photo: ICHRI

]]> https://countervortex.org/blog/un-condemns-alarming-global-increase-in-executions/feed/ 0 Trump vows ‘reverse migration’ —after CIA blowback? https://countervortex.org/blog/trump-vows-reverse-migration-after-cia-blowback/ https://countervortex.org/blog/trump-vows-reverse-migration-after-cia-blowback/#respond Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:42:00 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=24892 rant. In the bizarre Thanksgiving message, Trump vowed to "permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries" and revisit immigration decisions made under his predecessor, Joe Biden. He said deportations will target "anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country" or "non-compatible with Western Civilization." Trump's message followed the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington DC, apparently by an Afghan refugee, Rahmanullah Lakanwal. In Afghanistan, Lakanwal reportedly served in the Zero Units: paramilitary forces backed by the CIA—notorious for conducting night raids on the homes of suspected Taliban collaborators. Rights groups have accused them of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, indiscriminate airstrikes, and attacks on medical facilities. According to the New York Times, the brutality of the Zero Unit tactics took a toll on Lakanwal's mental health, with a childhood friend recalling how he was disturbed by the casualties his unit had caused. (Image: Twitter)]]> President Trump called for “reverse migration” and a “major reduction in illegal and disruptive populations” in a racist late-night online rant Nov. 27. In the bizarre Thanksgiving message, Trump vowed to “permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries” and to revisit immigration decisions made under his predecessor, Joe Biden. He said deportations will target “anyone who is not a net asset to the United States, or is incapable of loving our Country” or “non-compatible with Western Civilization.” Trump’s message followed the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington DC, apparently by an Afghan refugee. Hours before the Washington shooting, the White House had already confirmed plans to re-vet refugees already settled in the US.

The Nov. 26 shooting in Washington, which killed 21-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and critically wounded a second National Guard soldier, is said to have been committed by 29-year-old Afghan refugee Rahmanullah Lakanwal. While much of the media coverage has focused on Trump’s angry response—including his decision to suspend immigration requests from all Afghans—less is being written about the alleged shooter’s difficult life in Afghanistan. Originally from the southeastern province of Khost, Lakanwal reportedly served in Kandahar as part of the so-called Zero Units: paramilitary forces sponsored and controlled by the CIA—notorious for conducting night raids on the homes of suspected Taliban collaborators. Rights groups have accused them of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, indiscriminate airstrikes, and attacks on medical facilities. According to the New York Times, the brutality of the Zero Unit tactics took a toll on Lakanwal’s mental health, with a childhood friend recalling how he suffered from psychological problems and was disturbed by the casualties his unit had caused.

From The New Humanitarian, Nov. 28

See our feature report on Afghanistan’s CIA/NATO-backed paramilitaries.

Image: Twitter

]]> https://countervortex.org/blog/trump-vows-reverse-migration-after-cia-blowback/feed/ 0 Fighting breaks out along Durand Line https://countervortex.org/blog/fighting-breaks-out-along-durand-line/ https://countervortex.org/blog/fighting-breaks-out-along-durand-line/#comments Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:23:42 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=24783 reports in Pakistan's media, the Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants launched an attack from the Afghan side of the border, killing at least 23 Pakistani troops and injuring some 30 others. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that troops responded to cross-border raids by "Fitna-e-Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan terrorist elements." This appears to be a reference to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to. In contrast, a statement from Hamdullah Fitrat, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said that conditions on the "imaginary line" with Pakistan are under control. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been fraught with tension, especially around the disputed Durand Line border. Established in 1893 between British India and Afghanistan, this border has never been officially recognized by any Afghan government since the partition of India in 1947, leading to a persistent territorial dispute. (Map: Google)]]> According to Oct. 12 reports in Pakistan’s media, the Afghan Taliban and affiliated militants launched an attack from the Afghan side of the border, killing at least 23 Pakistani troops and injuring some 30 others. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that troops responded to cross-border raids by “Fitna-e-Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan terrorist elements.”* This appears to be a reference to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to. In contrast, a statement from Hamdullah Fitrat, spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, said that conditions on the “imaginary line” with Pakistan are under control.

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been fraught with tension, especially around the disputed Durand Line border. Established in 1893 between British India and Afghanistan, this border has never been officially recognized by any Afghan government since the partition of India in 1947, leading to a persistent territorial dispute. (Jurist)

The fighting came just as the Taliban regime’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was in New Delhi at the invitation of India’s government. After Muttaqi met with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Oct. 10, New Delhi said it will reopen its embassy in Kabul. This would make India the second nation to recognize the restored Taliban regime after Russia. (Al Jazeera)

This rapprochement comes as the Taliban regime faces growing international censure. UN human rights experts on Oct. 10 condemned the Taliban’s internet and social media restrictions in Afghanistan, calling them violations of fundamental rights. The social media restrictions, which began on Oct. 7, target major platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. They follow a two-day nationwide internet blackout from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. The experts warned that restricting net and telecommunications services worsens Afghanistan’s humanitarian and economic crisis, increasing poverty, unemployment and food insecurity. These measures also hinder the delivery of critical humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities, including those affected by natural disasters and individuals forcibly returned from neighboring countries. (Jurist)

UN human rights experts on Aug. 14 issued a forceful appeal to the international community to reject Taliban rule in Afghanistan, denouncing it as violent, illegitimate and fundamentally oppressive. The appeal especially cited the regime’s systematic discrimination against women. (Jurist)

The US on Sept. 15 decertified Afghanistan as a reliable partner in the War on Drugs (despite a Taliban edict banning opium cultivation), automatically imposing sanctions. However, this has little practical effect, as Washington has no diplomatic relations with the Taliban government.

* These appear to be propaganda terms employed by the Pakistani state. Fitna basically means “destructive factionalism”; Khawarij refers to an early Islamic heresy. Hence Fitna-e-Khawarij can be translated as “heretical faction.” Hindustan of course means India, implying that Delhi is backing the insurgents.

Map: Google

]]> https://countervortex.org/blog/fighting-breaks-out-along-durand-line/feed/ 7 Russia recognizes Taliban regime in Afghanistan https://countervortex.org/blog/russia-recognizes-taliban-regime-in-afghanistan/ https://countervortex.org/blog/russia-recognizes-taliban-regime-in-afghanistan/#respond Mon, 07 Jul 2025 18:52:59 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=24576 recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan, with the Taliban flag raised at the Afghan embassy in Moscow. Earlier this year, Russia removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, citing "the need for cooperation in combating drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as building economic ties." The move to recognize the regime comes weeks after the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan shared evidence of systematic discrimination against women under Taliban rule. (Photo: 12019/Pixabay via Jurist)]]> Russia became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan on July 3, with the Taliban flag raised at the Afghan embassy in Moscow. Earlier this year, Russia removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, citing “the need for cooperation in combating drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as building economic ties.”

The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, with the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. Since then, human rights organizations have reported on the worsening situation in Afghanistan. In February, rights groups noted a decline in media freedom, including restrictions on political programming by local broadcast outlets, and an increase in harassment and detention of journalists.

In April of this year, UN experts urged the Taliban to terminate capital and corporal punishments after four public executions took place. The experts identified capital and corporal punishment as a violation of international law, including the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan shared evidence of systematic discrimination against women in May, stating that girls are denied education after grade six, including higher education; women are often barred from accessing services such as clinics, markets, and public transportation, unless accompanied by a male guardian; and women-operated places of employment are actively being shut down. UNICEF called on the Taliban in March to lift the ban on girls’ education, pointing to dire consequences for the economy, the health system, and overall development.

In June, UN experts raised concerns over the dismantling of Afghanistan’s legal and institutional frameworks, charging that the rule of law has been replaced with targeted policies suppressing the autonomy of women and gender minorities, including access to justice. The Taliban have dismissed all judges appointed by the previous government, replacing them with Taliban-affiliated judges who often lack legal training. In addition, Taliban authorities prevent women from registering as lawyers.

Earlier this year, the Taliban rejected International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction, after the ICC prosecutor sought arrest warrants for Taliban leaders. The Taliban cited religious and national values as reasons for the voidance of the Rome Statute.

From JURIST, July 5. Used with permission.

See our last report on moves toward recognition of the Taliban regime.

Photo: 12019/Pixabay via Jurist

]]> https://countervortex.org/blog/russia-recognizes-taliban-regime-in-afghanistan/feed/ 0 State Department imposes sanctions on ICC judges https://countervortex.org/blog/state-department-imposes-sanctions-on-icc-judges/ https://countervortex.org/blog/state-department-imposes-sanctions-on-icc-judges/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2025 18:04:18 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=24287 imposed sanctions on on four individuals serving as judges on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their involvement with the ICC’s investigations into the US and Israel. The sanctions were imposed pursuant to Executive Order No. 14,203, "Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court," which President Donald Trump signed in February in response to the ICC's warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. The stated purpose of the order was to underline the position that the US and Israel are not within the jurisdiction of the ICC under the Rome Statute, and therefore any investigation into the actions of the two countries is invalid. (Photo: OSeveno/WikiMedia)]]> The US Department of State imposed sanctions on June 5 on four individuals serving as judges on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their involvement with the ICC’s investigations into the US and Israel. The sanctions were imposed pursuant to Executive Order No. 14,203, “Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court,” which President Donald Trump signed on Feb. 6. The order was signed in response to the ICC’s warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant. The stated purpose of the order was to underline the position that the US and Israel are not within the jurisdiction of the ICC under the Rome Statute, and therefore any investigation into the actions of the two countries is invalid.

The newly sanctioned individuals include ICC Second Vice President Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini Gansou (Benin), Judge Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza (Peru) and Judge Beti Hohler (Slovenia). Under the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the sanctioned persons that are in the US, or in possession or control of US-based persons, are blocked, and all transactions by persons within (or transiting) the US that involve any property or interests in property of the designated persons, are prohibited, unless authorized by a general or specific license.

The State Department specified that Bossa and Ibanez Carranza were sanctioned because of their ruling to authorize the ICC’s reopening of an investigation of possible war crimes by US forces in Afghanistan, while Alapini and Hohler were sanctioned because they authorized the ICC’s issuance of arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.

The statement said that the action “reflects the seriousness of the threat [the US] face[s] from the ICC’s politicization and abuse of power.”

The ICC responded in a press release, expressing its unwavering support of Court personnel and calling the sanctions a direct attack on the independence of the Court. The ICC stated:

These measures are a clear attempt to undermine the independence of an international judicial institution which operates under the mandate from 125 States Parties from all corners of the globe… The ICC stands fully behind its personnel, and will continue its work undeterred, in strict accordance with the Rome Statute and the principles of fairness and due process, with a view to bringing justice to victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression.

From JURIST, June 6. Used with permission.

See our last reports on the ICC investigations into the US in Afghanistan and Israel in Gaza, and genocide accusations against Israel.

Photo: OSeveno/WikiMedia

]]> https://countervortex.org/blog/state-department-imposes-sanctions-on-icc-judges/feed/ 2 Trump issues new ‘travel ban’ proclamation https://countervortex.org/blog/trump-proclamation-instates-new-travel-ban/ https://countervortex.org/blog/trump-proclamation-instates-new-travel-ban/#comments Sat, 07 Jun 2025 18:23:05 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=24282 proclamation implementing a nearly full travel ban on nationals from a dozen countries, severely restricting potential entry into the United States. The proclamation is based on an executive order issued on Trump's first day in office that laid the foundation for the administration to enact extensive immigration controls. Commentators have harshly criticized the ban, pointing out that it disproportionately affects Muslim-majority and African countries. Amnesty International's secretary general Agnes Callamard lambasted Trump for the action, calling it "discriminatory, racist and downright cruel." The restrictions bear a striking resemblance to Trump's 2017 travel ban, which blocked travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries. (Photo: Minneapolis protest of 2018 Supreme Court decision upholding Trump's first travel ban. Credit: Fibonacci Blue/Flickr)]]> President Donald Trump issued a proclamation June 4 implementing a nearly full travel ban on nationals from a dozen countries, severely restricting potential entry into the United States. The proclamation is based on an executive order issued on Trump’s first day in office that laid the foundation for the administration to enact extensive immigration controls. Trump claimed the action serves national security interests:

As President, I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people. I remain committed to engaging with those countries willing to cooperate to improve information-sharing and identity-management procedures, and to address both terrorism-related and public-safety risks. Nationals of some countries also pose significant risks of overstaying their visas…which increases burdens on immigration and law enforcement…and often exacerbates other risks related to national security and public safety.

Commentators have criticized the ban, pointing out that it disproportionately affects Muslim-majority and African countries. Amnesty International’s secretary general Agnes Callamard lambasted Trump for the action, calling it inhumane:

President Trump’s new travel ban is discriminatory, racist, and downright cruel. By targeting people based on their race, religion, or nationality, from countries with predominantly Black, Brown and Muslim-majority populations, this blanket ban constitutes racial discrimination under international human rights law. It also spreads hate and disinformation, reinforcing the notion that these populations are more likely to pose security risks or engage in acts of violence.

Leaders of affected countries have also denounced the United States for the action. In a Facebook post, Chad President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno announced a corresponding ban on US citizens and jabbed at Trump for his recent receipt of a Qatari luxury jet:

I have instructed the government in accordance with the principles of reciprocity and suspended the granting of visas to citizens of the United States of America. Chad has neither airplanes nor billions of dollars to give, but Chad has its dignity and its pride.

The ban extends almost completely to nationals of Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Additionally, more partial bans have been placed on nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

The restrictions bear a striking resemblance to Trump’s 2017 travel ban, which blocked travel to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries. Some of these countries—namely Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen—have suffered under both bans.

Trump justified the current ban in almost identical fashion as the 2017 ban, relying on certain provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 212(f) of the act allows the president to deny entry into the country if doing so “would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.” The administration additionally cited 215(a), which allows the president to block individuals’ entry if they knowingly make false statements or otherwise engage in fraudulent activity.

For both bans, Trump claimed that restrictions were not based on religion or race but rather countries’ deficient screening processes, high terrorist activity, poor information sharing, and high overstay rates.

After multiple challenges, the US Supreme Court ultimately upheld Trump’s first travel ban under the INA and the US Constitution.

Trump stated: “We will restore the travel ban…and keep the radical Islamic terrorists out of our country that was upheld by the Supreme Court.”

From JURIST, June 5. Used with permission.

Note: The 2017 Trump travel ban was overturned by Biden on his first day in office, Jan. 20, 2021.

Photo: Minneapolis protest of 2018 Supreme Court decision upholding Trump’s first travel ban. Credit: Fibonacci Blue/Flickr

]]> https://countervortex.org/blog/trump-proclamation-instates-new-travel-ban/feed/ 4 Afghans out; Afrikaners in https://countervortex.org/blog/afghans-out-afrikaners-in/ https://countervortex.org/blog/afghans-out-afrikaners-in/#comments Sat, 17 May 2025 18:24:42 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=24239 announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans, saying that the "conditions in Afghanistan" no longer warrant continuing the program. Afghanistan is experiencing a dire human rights crisis under renewed Taliban rule. Human Rights Watch has reported that individuals who have links with the previous Afghan government's security forces (or the US-led force that backed it) face violent reprisals such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture. Meanwhile, nearly 60 white South Africans were admitted into the US as part of Trump's resettlement program for Afrikaners who say they fear persecution. Trump, who has otherwise virtually shut down the US asylum program, said that a "genocide" against "white farmers" is taking place in South Africa. Bill Frelick, head of the Refugee & Migrants Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, responded that Trump's claim "is not actually supported from any of the information that we have seen." (Photo: USMC Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla/CentComPublic Affairs via Wikimedia Commons)]]> Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on May 12 announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for individuals from Afghanistan. Noem stated that the “conditions in Afghanistan” no longer warrant continuing the program, finding that it is “contrary to the national interest.” TPS for Afghans was originally introduced by former president Joe Biden in March 2022 to protect the more than 70,000 Afghans who had entered the US as part of the government’s “Operation Allies Welcome,” after the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. (Jurist)

Afghanistan is experiencing a dire human rights crisis under renewed Taliban rule. Human Rights Watch has reported that individuals who have links with the previous Afghan government’s security forces (or the US-led force that backed it) face violent reprisals such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture. The International Criminal Court prosecutor is seeking arrest warrants for Taliban officials accused of crimes against humanity.

Also May 12, nearly 60 white South Africans were admitted into the US as part of President Trump’s resettlement program for Afrikaners who say they fear persecution. Trump, who has otherwise virtually shut down the US asylum program, replied to a reporter’s question ebout the entry of the South Africans: “It’s a genocide that’s taking place that you people don’t want to write about, but it’s a terrible thing that’s taking place. And farmers are being killed. They happen to be white, but whether they’re white or Black makes no difference to me, but white farmers are being brutally killed, and their land is being confiscated in South Africa.”

Bill Frelick, head of the Refugee & Migrants Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, responded to Trump’s claims by saying: “Well, this is not actually supported from any of the information that we have seen.” (NewsHour)

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa called the group of 59 who have moved to the US “cowards” who are unhappy with efforts to address the inequities of the apartheid past, terming their relocation a “sad moment for them.” (BBC News, PRI)

In a statement, South Africa’s foreign ministry described the resettlement program as “politically motivated” and designed to undermine South Africa’s “constitutional democracy.” The statement said that allegations of discrimination against the country’s white minority are unfounded, and that crime statistics do not indicate that any racial group had been targeted in violent crimes on farms. (BBC News)

Photo: USMC Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla/CentCom Public Affairs via Wikimedia Commons

]]> https://countervortex.org/blog/afghans-out-afrikaners-in/feed/ 1 Pakistan forcibly deporting Afghan refugees https://countervortex.org/blog/pakistan-forcibly-deporting-afghan-refugees/ https://countervortex.org/blog/pakistan-forcibly-deporting-afghan-refugees/#respond Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:59:39 +0000 https://countervortex.org/?post_type=blog&p=24173 reported that nearly 60,000 Afghan refugees have been forcibly deported from Pakistan so far this month. The latest wave of deportations comes amid a nationwide effort to expel foreigners, whether they are residing in Pakistan legally or illegally, in the name of "national security." Amnesty International criticized the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) for being ambiguous in its criteria for deportation. Last year's previous wave of deportations under the IFRP saw 800,000 Afghans, many of whom have resided in Pakistan for decades. While Afghan refugees face growing stigmatization and discrimination in Pakistan, they often face persecution and violent reprisals at the hands of the Taliban after their repatriation. (Photo: IOM)]]>

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on April 15 reported that nearly 60,000 Afghan refugees have been forcibly deported from Pakistan so far this month. The latest wave of forced deportations comes amid a nationwide effort to expel foreigners, whether they are residing in Pakistan legally or illegally, in the name of “national security.” Amnesty International criticized the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) for being ambiguous in its criteria for deportation.

Meanwhile, media attacks on Afghan refugees, labeling them “traitors,” “terrorists” and “criminals,” have only intensified the level of discrimination against them. Minister of Interior Moshin Naqvi in January announced that Afghan refugees would be prohibited from residing in Islamabad without a “no-objection certificate,” a prohibitively difficult document to acquire.

Although the government had provided reassurance to the Supreme Court of Pakistan that the forced deportations would not affect Afghan refugees who hold valid documentation, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that documented refugees are also facing evictions and arrests. Last year’s previous wave of deportations under the IFRP saw 800,000 Afghans, many of whom had resided in Pakistan for decades, being driven into Afghanistan, where they face renewed threats under the oppressive Taliban regime.

Women and girls who have been receiving education in Pakistan are stripped of their fundamental right to education when they are repatriated to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Human Rights Watch has reported that individuals who have links with the previous Afghan government’s security forces are also vulnerable to becoming victims of violent reprisals such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture.

The rates of deportation have soared since the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has broken down, amid increased militant attacks in the border areas. Refugees who have been deported to Afghanistan have cited minimal access to food, clean water and housing as among the many adversities that they face daily. Rights groups say Pakistan’s forced deportations are in contravention of various international human rights instruments, including the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Article 33 of the Refugee Convention codifies the principle of non-refoulement, which bars states from returning refugees to a territory where their life or freedom would be at risk. However, Pakistan is not a signatory to the Convention. It is hoped that other countries that have taken in Afghan refugees, such as the United States, along with the international community as a whole, will increase pressure on Pakistan to halt its inhumane practices.

From JURIST, April 16. Used with permission.

See our last reports on forced repatriation of Afghan refugees and the Taliban anti-woman crackdown.

Photo: IOM

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