Afghanistan Under Taliban Rule: Fear, Surveillance, and Widespread Human Rights Abuses

The Taliban regime is characterized by severe violations of fundamental human rights, leaving the population confined in a state of constant fear. Their anti-people policies and systemic abuses have pushed Afghanistan toward a profound humanitarian tragedy. To maintain its illegitimate dominance, the regime has adopted increasingly oppressive tactics.

According to the Afghan newspaper Hasht-e Subh, the public has become gripped by fear and anxiety due to the escalating violence and pressure. This climate of intimidation is exemplified by the ban on transporting women in taxis, which has caused drivers to refuse female passengers for fear of Taliban retribution. Furthermore, government employees are being arrested without justification under various pretexts, and even medical students have been targeted by the ministry during graduation ceremonies.

The regime also maintains psychological pressure and constant surveillance by repeatedly collecting information from the public through “regional passport” forms. Experts observe that these restrictions on movement, arbitrary arrests, and persistent surveillance have caused widespread mental health issues among the Afghan people. Ultimately, these policies and psychological pressures are pushing an entire generation into a cycle of fear, anxiety, and human tragedy.