"Where is the United Nations?"The family of a girl who was tortured and killed by the Taliban is on the verge of deportation in Iran

This photo of Marina Sadat was sent exclusively to Zan TV by her family.

Two years after the horrific killing of Marina Sadat by the Taliban in Kabul, her family is still struggling in the whirlpool of threats, displacement, and helplessness. In a recent interview with Zan News, Marina's brother recounts a shocking narrative of his family's ongoing suffering; a family that was first oppressed and tortured by the Taliban and is now on the verge of forced deportation from Iran.

Marina Sadat was a 23-year-old student who, in December 2023, was arrested by the Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of Kabul, solely for what they called "improper hijab." Marina's family searched for her for 21 full days until her tortured body was found inside a sack next to a stream in the Paghman district of Kabul. Marks of whipping, beating, suffocation, and torture on Marina’s frail and lifeless body testified to the cruelty inflicted upon her by the Taliban.

The body of Marina Sadat, a 23-year-old Afghan student, found in a sack beside a stream in Paghman district — showing signs of severe torture and abuse after being detained by the Taliban in December 2023.

Marina Sadat's parents were arrested and imprisoned by the Taliban after their daughter's killing, due to their pursuit of justice and protest against the group. Marina’s brother told Zan News, “My father and mother were in the Taliban’s Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Kabul for a full seven months. In prison, they were repeatedly beaten and tortured, and they were even subjected to electric shocks, the physical and psychological effects of which still remain on their bodies and minds.”

He added that during the interrogations, the Taliban repeatedly told them, “Why didn’t your daughter stay at home and why did she go to university? Why didn’t your daughter get married, and why did you disgrace us [the Taliban] with your protest and demands for justice?”

After seven months of detention, the Taliban released Marina’s parents on the condition of silence and a monetary guarantee. Marina’s brother says, “The Taliban warned us that if we raise our voices again, this time they will eliminate all of us.”

Following these threats, Marina’s family was forced to leave Afghanistan in July 2024. They crossed the border with great difficulty and entered Iran. Marina’s brother says about this, “Although we entered Iran legally, we had to bribe Afghan border soldiers in order to cross the border. Throughout the journey, we were worried that we might again be under Taliban surveillance.”

Now in Tehran, Marina’s family lives in a critical situation; under severe poverty, without legal residency, without the right to education or work, and under constant threat of arrest and deportation. Marina’s brother says, “After the visa expired, we went several times to the Iranian Ministry of Immigration in Tehran, but our asylum request was rejected. They said if we pay 5,000 dollars and have an official guarantor, we might be able to get temporary residency. We had neither such money nor anyone to guarantee us. We are a wounded, helpless, and grieving family that even struggles to afford our nightly bread. We were arrested multiple times by Iranian police and were only released through pleading and paying bribes.”

Marina’s family says they have gone to the office of the United Nations (UNHCR) in Tehran many times, but they were met with neglect and humiliation. Marina’s brother says, “Local staff of the United Nations told us that no country is willing to accept you Afghans, you terrorists, and they rejected our asylum request.”

Marina’s family’s greatest concern now is forced deportation from Iran. Marina’s brother says, “If we go back to Afghanistan, the Taliban will kill us. We have neither shelter nor refuge. If the world does not respond to our cries and before we are deported, we will be forced to commit suicide and self-immolation. This will be a catastrophe.”

Marina’s family calls on the international community, the United Nations, and European countries to be their voice and prevent their forced deportation. They also call on free media and Afghan activists not to remain silent and to respond to this cry for justice.