[JURIST] The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) [advocacy website] has accused [press release, in Persian] the Taliban of Human rights abuses during the battle in Kunduz earlier this month. According to AIHRC at least 50 civilians were killed and more than 300 injured. They further indicated that the number is most likely much higher, as they complied the tally based on hospital records. AIHRC has called on the government to investigate the allegations of widespread human rights abuses. Afghanistan’s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah stated at a press conference [Reuters report] in the capital of Kabul on Sunday that people have given multiple accounts of the Tablian’s abuses and that the Taliban has shown no change in behavior. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement [VOA Report] emailed to Voice of America [media website] on Friday that they did not commit the atrocities of which they have been accused and they are in Kunduz under orders from their leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour to win the “hearts and minds” of the people.

Earlier this month the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an investigation [JURIST report] into the US Kunduz hospital bombing and for the results of an investigation to be made public. Several days prior to the hospital attack, the UN rights leader also requested that all parties in the Taliban attack in Kunduz attempt to keep civilians out of harm [JURIST report]. Human rights groups have criticized Afghanistan’s record in recent months. In August the UN said that a new report [text, PDF] showed a significant increase in the number of women and children [JURIST report] being hurt or killed in Afghanistan’s war against the Taliban and other insurgents. In June the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan Mark Bowden stated that the hostilities in Afghanistan are leading to the killing and wounding of thousands [JURIST report] and the forced relocation of families into neighboring countries.