During the Taliban rule, Afghanistan saw mass violation of human rights. The Taliban had restricted all the Afghan people, especially the women even from getting education. In Taliban’s time, massacres of ethnic and religious minorities took place and women were publicly prosecuted and they had been imprisoned in their own home.

During 90’s civil war too human rights were immensely violated by various groups involved in the conflict. After the ouster of Taliban regime from government in 2001, hopes that the condition would improve grew among the people. It was thought that as the government will get more powerful, certain warlords who were involved in mass killing, abuse and torture of civilians would be prosecuted. Not only that did not happen, but also such people have been given positions in the government and politics of Afghanistan.

As the 2014 presidential election nears, discussions over issues pertaining to human rights in Afghanistan are also becoming hot. Many object nomination of certain individuals as presidential candidates who are accompanied by two vice presidents each. According to them, either the main presidential candidate or their vice presidents have been involved in violation of human rights especially during 90’s civil war.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has recently prepared and distributed a questionnaire to the 11 presidential candidates posing 17 questions on the country’s most pressing human rights issues. This is a praiseworthy measure as it will give voters more information about who they are voting for. Nevertheless, it can be expected that all the candidates would come up with strong commitments on improving human rights condition in Afghanistan.

In April the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) urged for formulation of a strategy based on which individuals that have been involved in violation of human rights could be barred from taking part in the next year’s presidential election. Such a strategy could not be made and critics say certain former war lords have been allowed to run for presidential election.

President Karzai had even called upon Taliban supreme leader, Mullah Muhammad Omar and Hezb-e Islami leader, Gulbaddin Hekmatyar to participate in the next year’s presidential election. 

Although many know about the past of almost all the presidential candidates, it is suggested that civil society and human rights organizations study and prepare leaflets on the backgrounds of presidential candidates and their vice presidents and distributed them among the people so the right person can be elected. Questionnaires are only partial solution.