Global Human Rights Abuses and Restrictions

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has restricted content on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X, according to sources within the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. The restrictions, which have been applied to certain types of content, come a week after a 48-hour internet blackout across the country. Users in various provinces have reported difficulties accessing different platforms, with some unable to view videos or access Instagram. The Taliban has not provided a formal explanation for the restrictions, but a spokesperson previously stated that internet access was being blocked 'for the prevention of vices'. The move is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed by the Taliban since they returned to power in 2021, including severe limitations on women's rights and access to education.

The article reports on the experiences of Afghans deported from Iran, highlighting their brutal treatment and the difficulties they face upon returning to Afghanistan. Over 1.3 million Afghans have been deported by Iran this year, many with stories of violent arrests and beatings. The deportees, including children as young as 15, describe being smuggled into Iran, detained, and beaten. Despite the harsh conditions, many are desperate to return to Iran to support their families, who are struggling in Afghanistan due to poverty and lack of opportunities. The article also touches on the reasons why Afghans fled to Iran, including economic survival and escaping Taliban restrictions. Human rights groups have raised concerns about the deportations, stating that even those living legally in Iran have been swept up in the crackdown.

The article discusses the remaining comfort women survivors in Asia, 80 years after being forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. It highlights the story of 97-year-old Park Pil-geun, one of the last surviving comfort women in South Korea, and the ongoing struggles of these survivors to seek closure and justice. The issue remains a contentious topic between South Korea and Japan, with tensions rising and falling over the years. The article also touches on the responses of other affected countries, such as China and the Philippines, and the efforts of civic groups to raise awareness and install comfort women statues around the world.