Fact-finding mission to Afghanistan The Danish Immigration Service Ryesgade 53 DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø Phone: + 45 35 36 66 00 Website: www.udlst.dk E-mail: [email protected] Report on fact-finding mission to Afghanistan 1-29 November 1997 Contents Introduction..........................................................................................................................................6 Political developments in Afghanistan up to the time of the mission..........................................7 Terms of reference .......................................................................................................................9 1. The security situation in Afghanistan ............................................................................................15 A. Taliban-controlled territory ......................................................................................................15 1. Are the Taliban in full control of their territory, where applicable by way of allies, and what is its extent?................................................................................................................................15 2. Are people generally armed? .................................................................................................15 3. The mine hazard.....................................................................................................................16 4. Crime trends over the last year for more serious offences (such as murder, kidnapping, robbery and rape), and policing .................................................................................................18 5. General security picture over the last year.............................................................................20 6. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) .......................................................................................24 B. Northern Alliance-controlled territory......................................................................................25 1. Is the Alliance in full control of its territory, where applicable by way of allies, and what is its extent? ...................................................................................................................................25 2. Are people generally armed? .................................................................................................27 Fact-finding mission to Afghanistan 3. The mine hazard.....................................................................................................................27 4. Crime trends over the last year for more serious offences (such as murder, kidnapping, robbery and rape), and policing .................................................................................................27 5. General security picture over the last year.............................................................................27 6. Internally displaced persons (IDPs) .......................................................................................29 2. Military situation and other military matters .................................................................................30 A. Situation, control and front line ................................................................................................31 1. Just north of Kabul.................................................................................................................31 2. Around Mazar-i-Sharif...........................................................................................................32 3. West of Kabul towards the Bamian pass ...............................................................................33 4. East of Herat...........................................................................................................................33 5. In other conflict zones............................................................................................................34 B.Recruitment of soldiers by the warring parties ..........................................................................35 1. Taliban-controlled territory....................................................................................................35 2. Northern Alliance territory.....................................................................................................36 C. Position of prisoners of war (POWs) ........................................................................................37 1. Number and treatment of POWs held by the combatants......................................................37 2. Does the ICRC have access to POWs and are POWs exchanged?........................................37 3. Political and administrative situation.............................................................................................39 A. Taliban-controlled territory ......................................................................................................39 1. Political system ......................................................................................................................39 2. Administrative system............................................................................................................42 B. Northern Alliance territory........................................................................................................42 1. Political system ......................................................................................................................42 2. Administrative system............................................................................................................43 C. Allies..........................................................................................................................................44 1. Taliban allies..........................................................................................................................44 2. Alliance allies.........................................................................................................................44 4. Human rights problems in Afghanistan .........................................................................................45 2 Fact-finding mission to Afghanistan A. Extrajudicial executions, disappearances and detention, including politically motivated cases ........................................................................................................................................................46 1. Extrajudicial executions.........................................................................................................46 2. "Disappearances" ...................................................................................................................47 3. Detention................................................................................................................................48 B. Use of torture.............................................................................................................................49 1. Torture....................................................................................................................................49 2. Degrading treatment...............................................................................................................49 C. Application of Sharia law, including its procedural rules ........................................................50 1. Structure of courts..................................................................................................................50 2. Training and recruitment of judges........................................................................................51 3. Procedural rules......................................................................................................................52 4. Offences and penalties under Sharia law ...............................................................................52 5. Public executions and amputations of hands or feet..............................................................53 6. Legal system in Hazarajat......................................................................................................54 D. Freedom of movement...............................................................................................................55 E. Position of women .....................................................................................................................56 1. Schooling ...............................................................................................................................57 2. Dress code, restrictions on freedom of movement and penalties for infringements..............60 3. Position of educated women ..................................................................................................62 4. Participation in business and in social life generally .............................................................63 5. Penalties for women...............................................................................................................66 6. Position of women in Hazarajat.............................................................................................66 F. Religious matters .......................................................................................................................67 1. Shia Muslims .........................................................................................................................67