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Zan TV: Afghanistan's First Channel by and for Women. Watch breaking news, special reports, and more. April 22, 2025 Body of Woman Found in Daman District of Kandahar April 22, 2025 Over 750 Afghan Families Return from Iran and Pakistan in a Single Day April 22, 2025 Mary Kabir-Seraj Bischoping Appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan April 21, 2025 From Kabul to Tehran: A Joint War Against the Education of Afghan Girls April 21, 2025 UNICEF: Cash Assistance Provided to 400,000 Afghan Families Last Year April 21, 2025 Baghlan: Taliban Member Kills Wife, Brother, and Nephew April 20, 2025 Iran; Afghan Students with Census Documents Barred from School Enrollment April 20, 2025 Former Afghan National Women’s Football Player Faces Risk of Deportation from Germany 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 ... 110

Home About Our Programs Zan News Contact Us Welcome to ZanTV, a TV production company dedicated to creating quality content for women by women. Our mission is to empower women and break stereotypes through our programs. Click here to explore our shows and watch your favorites now. ZanTV: By Women, For Women! Explore Zan News Body of Woman Found in Daman District of Kandahar Over 750 Afghan Families Return from Iran and Pakistan in a Single Day Mary Kabir-Seraj Bischoping Appointed as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Afghanistan From Kabul to Tehran: A Joint War Against the Education of Afghan Girls See All News Our Latest Productions | Watch Now Overview At Zan TV, we believe in creating content that is not only entertaining but also impactful. We strive to represent women from all walks of life and their stories. Our team is committed to delivering high-quality productions that will contribute to women's empowerment thus sustainable development by thematic spotlight on different aspects of women’s empowerment through TV programs. Learn more Coming Soon Follow us on:

Zan News: Afghan female athletes who fled to Pakistan following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan say that when they were in Afghanistan, football was everything to them – "their joy, passion, and dreams." Now, they are engaged in football in another place. Afghan Female Athletes Refugees in Pakistan: Football is Our Source of Hope and Strength July 18, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Afghan female athletes who fled to Pakistan following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan say that when they were in Afghanistan, football was everything to them – "their joy, passion, and dreams." Now, they are engaged in football in another place. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in an interview with some Afghan female athletes in Pakistan and the release of a video recording of their statements, said that football for these women in Pakistan is more than just a game; it is a source of hope and strength. In the video, the female athletes say, "When we were in Afghanistan, we played in a football team and nurtured dreams of becoming professional players through football." They emphasize, "Although we were forced to leave our homeland, we never gave up." Some Afghan female athletes who have taken refuge in other countries have continued to play their favorite sports. They say, "Football gives us hope and strength. We share this hope with our team. We feel like the whole world is watching us and telling us not to give up." This comes as the Taliban, after coming to power in Afghanistan, have deprived many women and girls of their rights, including the right to education and work. The Taliban have also imposed numerous restrictions on women's presence in public places, including banning women's sports in the country. Meanwhile, six athletes, including three women from Afghanistan, are set to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, the Taliban have stated that "We do not recognize the three Afghan female athletes who are participating in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics." Kimia Yousufi, an Afghan athlete who is set to represent Afghanistan alongside five other athletes in these games, has said that she will represent the "stolen dreams and aspirations" of Afghan girls in these competitions.

Image: © Stringer / Reuters The Guardian has reported that a recent meeting between European Union officials and a Taliban delegation in Brussels to discuss the return of Afghan migrants has sparked widespread anger among Afghan women and human rights activists. The newspaper wrote on Thursday (25 June) that a number of Afghan women described the meeting as “a slap in the face of Afghan women”. According to them, by seating Taliban representatives at the negotiating table, Europe is giving legitimacy to a group that has deprived women of their most basic rights. The report said Afghan women view the move as Europe’s disregard for their five years of suffering. They say that by holding talks with the Taliban, the European Union is ignoring the deprivation of Afghan women from their most basic rights. The meeting was held on Tuesday in Brussels after 20 EU member states called for mechanisms to return Afghan citizens who do not have legal residency. European officials have said that talks with the Taliban are focused on individuals described as a “security threat” to Europe. However, The Guardian wrote that the invitation letter to Taliban officials referred to Afghans who do not have the legal right to stay in the European Union, an issue that critics say points to a much broader scope of deportations. Human rights activists see the meeting as part of Europe’s increasingly strict migration policies. They have warned that talks with the Taliban, even if described as “technical”, could lead to the normalisation of relations with the group and weaken human rights pressure on the Taliban. According to EU figures cited by The Guardian, member states received around one million asylum applications from Afghan citizens between 2013 and 2024, and nearly half of those applications were accepted. Meanwhile, the United Nations had previously reported that some Afghans returned to Afghanistan had faced arbitrary detention, torture and ill treatment. Human rights activists say returning Afghans to a country facing a human rights and humanitarian crisis under Taliban rule could endanger many lives. European Union officials have emphasised that the meeting does not amount to recognition of the Taliban. However, critics say issuing visas, hosting a meeting in Brussels and holding talks with Taliban representatives in practice gives the group political credibility. These concerns come as the Taliban have deprived women and girls in Afghanistan of education, work, freedom of movement and broad participation in public life. Women’s rights activists say any engagement with the Taliban without human rights conditions, particularly on the rights of women and girls, could normalise the repression of women in Afghanistan.

Image: AI-generated / CEPS A number of European lawmakers, former members of Afghanistan’s parliament and human rights activists have called on the European Union to refrain from inviting Taliban representatives to Brussels and from any official hosting of the group. In an open letter to the European Commission, the European External Action Service and EU member states, they expressed concern over talks with the Taliban on migration and the deportation of Afghan migrants. The signatories said such meetings, even if described as “technical”, could give the Taliban political legitimacy and send a message of normalising relations with the group. Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament from Germany, published the letter on X on Tuesday (23 June) and said, “Every invitation, every visa and every official meeting carries a political message.” She stressed that the Taliban use migration cooperation to gain political concessions and that the European Union must not trade its human rights principles for deportation agreements. The letter said the Taliban have not met any of the benchmarks set by the European Union for engagement. The signatories pointed to severe restrictions against women and girls, political repression, arbitrary detentions and public punishments in Afghanistan. They also said the growing role of Taliban officials in some Afghan consular missions in Europe has increased concerns about surveillance and pressure on Afghan migrants. The signatories called on the European Union to avoid any official engagement with the Taliban, separate migration cooperation from political processes and increase pressure to hold the Taliban accountable for human rights violations. The request comes as Belgium has issued visas to a number of Taliban representatives to attend a migration-related meeting in Brussels. European officials have said the meeting is technical in nature and does not amount to recognition of the Taliban. However, human rights activists have warned that any official hosting of the Taliban could help normalise relations with the group. These concerns come as, since returning to power, the Taliban have deprived women and girls of education, work, freedom of movement and participation in many areas of public life.

Photo: UN Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has called on the European Union and its member states not to return Afghans to places where they face danger. Bennett said on Tuesday (23 June) on his X account, in response to the invitation of a Taliban delegation to Brussels, that the principle of non-refoulement is “absolute” and “non-derogable” and that no exceptions are permitted. The reaction came after the European Union invited a Taliban delegation to Brussels for talks on the return of a number of Afghan asylum seekers. European officials have said the talks are technical and do not amount to formal recognition of the Taliban. Bennett said torture remains a real and serious risk in Afghanistan. According to him, no assurances or guarantees from the Taliban can remove this risk. Meanwhile, Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has also condemned the invitation of the Taliban to Brussels. She wrote on her X account on Monday (22 June) that she was “shocked and deeply disturbed” by the move. Malala said the Taliban are the same group that banned girls from going to school and excluded women and girls from public life. She added that through “gender apartheid”, the Taliban have deprived women and girls in Afghanistan of education, work and social participation. Malala stressed, “Any engagement with the Taliban must begin and end with the rights of Afghan women and girls.” The invitation of the Taliban to Brussels has prompted widespread reactions from human rights activists and organisations defending asylum seekers. Critics say engagement with the Taliban, even at a technical level, could grant the group legitimacy and put the safety of Afghan returnees at risk. These concerns come as the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan over nearly the past five years, from closing the doors of schools and universities to girls to banning women from work. Human rights organisations have warned that returning Afghans to Afghanistan, especially under the current conditions, could expose them to detention, torture, persecution and serious human rights violations.