Human Rights Watch Calls for Suspension of Afghanistan National Olympic Committee Under Taliban Control

In a report released on Thursday (July 18), Human Rights Watch states that since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, female athletes have either gone into hiding or fled the country and are living in exile.

The report also references the case of Keramuddin Karim, the former president of the Afghan Football Federation under the previous government, noting that despite credible evidence, he was never arrested or interrogated.

The report further indicates that since the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, thousands of women and girls have been deprived of secondary and higher education as well as the right to participate in sports. Taliban officials have closed training centers to women and girls, and the group's forces have threatened some athletes with violence.

According to the report, some female athletes in Afghanistan live in hiding and have tried to destroy evidence of their involvement in sports, including medals and sports equipment.

Human Rights Watch has interviewed athletes from basketball teams and other sports who are either in hiding in Afghanistan or seeking asylum in other countries.

The organization states that many female athletes live in exile and are seeking official recognition for Afghan women's national teams in various sports.

Human Rights Watch emphasizes that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should suspend the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee under Taliban control until women and girls can return to sports, similar to actions taken in the 1990s.

It is worth mentioning that Human Rights Watch has previously called for the suspension of the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee under Taliban control.

Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee has invited a six-member team to represent Afghanistan at the Paris 2024 Olympics, consisting of three female and three male athletes. Female athletes are expected to compete in running and swimming against representatives from other countries.

In response to the invitation of Afghan female athletes to the Paris 2024 Olympics, Taliban sports officials have announced that they do not recognize these female athletes.