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Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2022 10:14:24 +0000 (UTC)
From: INSO_AFG_CENTRAL_SA <sa.central@afg.ngosafety.org>
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Message-ID: <99SyYe64QMm0PZwtSRBfxQ@geopod-ismtpd-canary-0>
Subject: INSO REPORT =?UTF-8?B?4oCTIEFGRyDigJM=?= KABUL: Detention of
 Expatriate IO Subcontractors Highlights Continued Risk to Expatriate NGO
 Staff
To: Faisal Ahmadzai <faisal.ahmadzai@jack.ngo>

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC '-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN' 'http://www.w3.org=
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enter><table width=3D"580" style=3D" width: 580px;  border:1px solid #C1C2C=
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				This report is for the exclusive use of INSO partners and must not be s=
hared outside your organisation			</td>
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									<div><span style=3D"font-size:24.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0=
; padding: 0; font-family:'Arial', sans-serif; color:#5376b6">&nbsp;&nbsp;R=
EPORT</span></div>
									<div><span style=3D"font-size:10.0pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0=
; padding: 0; font-family:'Arial', sans-serif; color:#182748">&nbsp;&nbsp;&=
nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ATTENTION RECOMMENDED</span></div>
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lor:#15274B;  ">
								<div style=3D"margin: 12.5px 25px; padding: 0 12.5px 0 0;">LOCATION=
</div>
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2.0pt; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; line-height:115%;  ">
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ttom:1px solid #C1C2C4;">
								Afghanistan, Kabul Province, Kabul City, PD 19, <a href=3D"https://=
goo.gl/maps/BQ7sLTzBGkccL2R17">Pul-e Charki</a> Area								</div>
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lor:#15274B;  ">
								<div style=3D"margin: 12.5px 25px; padding: 0 12.5px 0 0;">INCIDENT=
 TYPE</div>
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2.0pt; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; line-height:115%;  ">
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ttom:1px solid #C1C2C4;">
								Detention of Expatriate IO Subcontractors								</div>
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3.52%; border:none; font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; co=
lor:#15274B;  ">
								<div style=3D"margin: 12.5px 25px; padding: 0 12.5px 0 0;">DATE & T=
IME</div>
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2.0pt; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; line-height:115%;  ">
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ttom:1px solid #C1C2C4;">
								05/02/2022 12:00								</div>
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lor:#15274B;  ">
								<div style=3D"margin: 12.5px 25px; padding: 0 12.5px 0 0;">INFORMAT=
ION</div>
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2.0pt; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; line-height:115%;  ">
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ttom:1px solid #C1C2C4;">
								<div style=3D"text-align: justify;">At an unclear time on or about =
05 February, IEA forces arrested two foreign nationals and an unconfirmed n=
umber of their Afghan colleagues in the title area, who were at the time wo=
rking for an IO as subcontractors on a media project. The individuals were =
reportedly on assignment in the title area when IEA members approached and =
detained them.<br /><br />IO officials and foreign journalists raised conce=
rns regarding the arrest via social media during the course of the week, wi=
th IEA officials eventually confirming the arrest on 11 February, stating t=
hat the two individuals had failed to present identification documents when=
 IEA members prompted them.<br /><br />The two individuals were released la=
ter on 11 February, after IEA officials indicated that their relevant ident=
ification documents had been delivered to the authorities.</div>								</d=
iv>
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lor:#15274B;  ">
								<div style=3D"margin: 12.5px 25px; padding: 0 12.5px 0 0;">ANALYSIS=
</div>
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2.0pt; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; line-height:115%;  ">
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ttom:1px solid #C1C2C4;">
								<p style=3D"text-align: justify;">While the exact circumstances of =
the arrest still remain largely unclear, a six-day detention for allegedly =
failing to carry the required identification documents would indicate a sig=
nificant escalation of sanctions on this type of offence. Furthermore, base=
d on the official statements, it appears that the individuals likely had ac=
quired the necessary documentation for their work assignment through the pr=
oper channels, as senior IEA officials indicated they were released after t=
heir &ldquo;identities were established&rdquo; in an unspecified manner.<br=
 /><br />Alternatively, the arrest may have been prompted by the individual=
s&rsquo; project work itself, which is likely to have involved the public u=
se of media equipment, which may have aroused initial suspicions among rank=
-and-file IEA members on patrol in the title area. The exact nature of the =
project similarly remains unclear, however, based on the professional backg=
round of the two individuals is believed to have likely involved the use of=
 cameras. The fact that multiple Afghan nationals, who were working with th=
e two foreign nationals, were also arrested further supports the assessment=
 that the arrest may have not been exclusively related to the expatriates&r=
squo; lack of identifying documents.<br /><br />The arrests also occurred i=
n the context of increased scrutiny of local journalists and political acti=
vists in Kabul in recent weeks. Since 06 January, IEA forces arrested at le=
ast 14 activists and journalists in different PDs of Kabul City, ten of whi=
ch are believed to have been released as of the time of writing. The exact =
number of affected individuals remains unclear, however, as some reported a=
rrests could not be independently verified.<br /><br />The arrest of foreig=
n IO subcontractors also remains a significant concern for NGO safety, as s=
imilarly high levels of scrutiny of identifying documents can also be expec=
ted to apply to expatriate NGO staff members during travel or project imple=
mentation. Moreover, activities that authorities could interpret as being p=
olitically-motivated, or journalistic in nature may further increase this s=
crutiny and prompt similar sanctions against foreign national staff. As dem=
onstrated in previous similar incidents, IEA members may also detain foreig=
n national NGO staff based on other factors, such as unclear authority to g=
rant permissions for site visits (see AFGHANISTAN/EAST/R/28112021/#001), or=
 general suspicions towards movements of expatriate staff outside of Kabul =
(see AFGHANISTAN/EAST/R/21112021/#001).<br /><br />While the release of the=
 two individuals appears to have been successfully expedited by negotiation=
s involving IO and embassy officials as well as public pressure, other fore=
ign nationals are believed to remain in IEA detention in Kabul. Further det=
entions are a distinct possibility, as suspicions towards foreign nationals=
 in general remains high, while regulations related to immigration and labo=
ur laws are oftentimes unclear and implemented in an inconsistent fashion.<=
/p>								</div>
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lor:#15274B;  ">
								<div style=3D"margin: 12.5px 25px; padding: 0 12.5px 0 0;">ADVICE</=
div>
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2.0pt; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; line-height:115%;  ">
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ttom:1px solid #C1C2C4;">
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<p>NGO staff members should ensure that all necessary permissions, document=
ations, and authorisations from relevant officials are in place prior to tr=
avel. NGO travellers should have IEA contacts in the event of detention or =
extended questioning. In the event of detention, NGO staff should remain ca=
lm and cooperative, seeking to understand the reasons for the detention and=
 explain clearly the type and extent of authorisation received prior to the=
 arrest.<br /><br />All NGO staff members should carry relevant identifying=
 documents (Tazkiras, passports, NGO ID cards, authorisation letters from r=
elevant ministries etc.) with them at all times. While copies have been fou=
nd to be generally accepted at checkpoints in Kabul, if deemed safe to do s=
o, originals of key documents should be carried, in particular by expatriat=
e staff members.<br /><br />When being held for questioning, NGO staff shou=
ld request to immediately contact their respective security focal points, i=
f safe to do so. During questioning by IEA personnel, NGO staff are further=
 advised to inform IEA members of the independent and neutral nature of the=
ir work.<br /><br />Should IEA personnel not accept issued permission lette=
rs or other documents, NGO staff are advised to remain calm, cooperative, a=
nd seek to clarify any misunderstandings. NGO staff should explain which is=
suing authority had granted them which types of permission, and respectfull=
y request to call these IEA authorities for support.</p>
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lor:#15274B;  ">
								<div style=3D"margin: 12.5px 25px; padding: 0 12.5px 0 0;">ISSUED B=
Y</div>
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2.0pt; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; line-height:115%;  ">
								<div style=3D"margin: 12.5px 25px; padding: 0 0 12.5px 0; border-bo=
ttom:1px solid #C1C2C4;">
								<p>SA Central, Dennis Ikas<br /><br /><a href=3D"mailto:sa.central@=
afg.ngosafety.org">sa.central@afg.ngosafety.org</a></p>								</div>
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lor:#15274B;  ">
								<div style=3D"margin: 12.5px 25px; padding: 0 12.5px 0 0;">INSO SER=
IAL #</div>
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2.0pt; font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; line-height:115%;  ">
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ttom:1px solid #C1C2C4;">
								AFGHANISTAN/CENTRAL/R/14022022/#002								</div>
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76b6; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:63px; font-size:7.5pt; font-family:'A=
rial', sans-serif; color:white; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;=
">
				INSO exists to provide dedicated security services to the NGO community=
. As a free service, INSO and its donors or partners, accept no liability w=
hatsoever for claims as may result from the provision or utilisation of the=
se free services. Whilst every effort is made to the verify data, INSO cann=
ot guarantee the accuracy of information provided. Reproduction of INSO inf=
ormation is prohibited.									<br>
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