Image Source: dailymail Bashir Hotak, a 23-year-old Afghan asylum seeker in the United Kingdom, appeared in court on Tuesday charged with sexual assault and assault against a woman in London. He is accused of attacking and sexually assaulting a woman on 29 June this year at a bar in the West End area of London. According to British media reports, at the time of the incident Hotak was staying at the “Ibis Styles Seven Kings” hotel in east London. He appeared in court accompanied by a Persian-speaking lawyer; however, only a few minutes after the hearing began, the lawyer announced that he could no longer represent him. Reports say that when Hotak was asked to enter a plea to the charges, he broke down in tears, saying: “My English is very weak. I am ill, under medical treatment, and taking a lot of medication.” The judge granted him three weeks to find a new lawyer. The next hearing is scheduled for 10 November. Until then, Hotak remains free on conditional bail, provided that he does not contact the complainant. The judge warned that if these conditions are breached, police will arrest him and his bail status will be reviewed.

Photo: HarrietHarman/X Harriet Harman, the United Kingdom’s Special Envoy for Women and Girls, has said that Afghan women have not surrendered despite the Taliban’s repression and restrictions, and that the UK remains firmly committed to defending their rights. In a message posted on Wednesday (October 22), accompanied by a photo from her previous meeting with Afghan women activists, Harman wrote: “The message from Afghan women is clear: they have not given up – and neither will we. The UK stands firm in demanding their rights, amplifying their voices.” In the photo she shared, several Afghan women activists are seen alongside Harman and Richard Lindsay, the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. Earlier, on 10 October, Richard Lindsay had posted the same photo from the meeting, describing it as “a constructive and important discussion.” He said that Afghan women leaders shared their views on how to support women’s rights, leadership, and participation in Afghanistan’s future. These statements come as Afghan women remain deprived of education, employment, and social participation under Taliban rule. Despite repeated calls from the international community to restore women’s fundamental rights, the Taliban have so far taken no action in this regard.

Photo: WAKIL KOHSAR /AFP UN Women has warned in a new report that women and girls around the world are facing the highest levels of violence and deprivation seen in decades. The report, released on Monday (October 20) to mark the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which highlights the role and participation of women in peace and global security, paints a grim picture of the current state of women’s rights. According to the report, more than 676 million women and girls live within 50 kilometres of active armed conflict zones. Over the past two years, cases of conflict-related sexual violence have increased by 87 percent, while civilian deaths, particularly among women and children, have quadrupled. The United Nations says that by the end of 2024, about 123 million people globally had been forcibly displaced, with more than 60 million of them being women and girls. Many of these women live in unsafe conditions, face a high risk of sexual violence, and are deprived of access to health care and education. The report also highlights the continued exclusion of women from peace processes: in 2024, only 7 percent of negotiators and 14 percent of mediators in formal peace processes were women. In many peace talks, not a single woman was present. Afghanistan is highlighted in the report as one of the countries where women and girls have suffered most from conflict, poverty, and social exclusion. Under Taliban rule, Afghan women face some of the most extreme forms of discrimination and deprivation in the world. The report states: “Four years after the Taliban’s return to power, eight out of every ten young Afghan women remain deprived of education, employment, or skills training.” It also notes that decades of progress in women’s participation in the judicial system have been erased. Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, all female judges have been removed from the judiciary. The United Nations warns that Afghanistan is among the countries where more than one million pregnant and breastfeeding women are suffering from acute malnutrition. Along with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan, Afghanistan is listed among the world’s most critical regions for women’s malnutrition. Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, severe restrictions have been imposed on the social participation of women and girls. The Taliban have banned women from education, employment, and even public spaces. These restrictions have not only stripped women of their basic rights but have also severely limited their access to essential services such as health care and nutrition.

Part One Photo: UNICEF/Amin Meerzad Author: Roina Bakhshi It was a rainy day, and Raihan, while gazing out the window at the birds perched on the tree, was thinking about her dreams and wishes. She had no idea whether she would ever achieve them or not. Mother: “Raihan, come, breakfast is ready.” Raihan: “Ok Mom, I’ll come in a few minutes.” Raihan wanted to watch the birds a little longer. Their chirping, their hopping from branch to branch, and their longing to find a mate had enchanted her. Her mother kept calling out, but Raihan playfully ignored the voice. In the end, however, she had to tear herself away from the birds and join the breakfast spread. She ate her breakfast in silence, and her mother could tell from her expression that something was troubling her. After breakfast, still quiet, she began tidying up the house; washing the dishes, wiping the windows, and tidied the house. Her mother said, “Raihan, what’s wrong with you this morning?” Raihan replied, “I don’t know why I feel so down and upset. I have a bad feeling today.” Rahmat, with a backpack full of books and pens, came toward her with mischief and joy, bouncing in her gaze. When he got close, he playfully tapped her knee with a pen and said, “What are you daydreaming about? Come study some math with me. I have a test tomorrow.” Her blank stare broke away from some unknown place, and she looked at her younger brother. In her eyes, he seemed joyful and carefree. “You little rascal, you’ve grown so big from eating so much, but you still can’t solve your questions! Mischief sparkles from your eyes, and all you ever want is to pull me out of my daydreams, huh?” She smiled and helped him with his lessons. After solving a few difficult equations, Raihan went to her room and opened her schoolbooks. She gazed lovingly at her neatly arranged notebooks, the carefully written titles in bold red ink, the rest in blue, the little flowers drawn beside the pages, and the books resting in the blue bookshelf. She had a tall, three-shelf cabinet where she kept her belongings. One section was dedicated to the books she read with love. She recalled her final year of school; a time when she and her classmates went to school together with excitement and passion. The yellow and white color of the room’s walls reminded her of the classroom. Her room was decorated with a bed, a chair, a desk, a cabinet, and a red Afghan carpet that she had chosen herself with care. She loved that space deeply; it was her only comforting refuge in moments of sorrow. Whenever she needed solitude, she preferred to retreat there, because from that spot, she could sit and watch the view outside the window. It has been almost two years since she last went to school, because the Taliban do not allow girls to receive an education. Even thinking about it made her kind heart ache. Raihan had beautiful dreams of finishing her education in her homeland so she could serve her family and her people. She wept pearl-like tears for her dreams, when suddenly there was a knock at the door. Her mother’s silhouette appeared in the doorway, and the moment she opened the door, she froze in place. With furrowed brows, she looked at her daughter with urgency and surprise. “My dear daughter, are you crying?” Raihan wiped her tears. “Mother dear, I was thinking about the dreams I had after graduating from school... how I would build my character and achieve my goals.” Her mother said, “May I be sacrificed for your beautiful honey, almond-shaped eyes, my daughter.” Her mother gently tucked behind her ear the golden strands of Raihan’s hair that had fallen loose and been dampened by tears. She showered her beloved daughter with affection and blessings, then wrapped her in her warm embrace. “Such a pity if those tulip-like cheeks should ever burn in the fire of sorrow...” She kissed her moonlike face, caressed her gently, and after a brief pause, continued. “Don’t worry, my daughter. All of this will pass. God willing, you’ll return to school and continue your education.” “I hope so,” she replied. Raihan drew strength from her mother’s pure and kind-hearted words, seeing her as the true fighter in her life. Her mother’s embrace was the safest place in the face of every fear. Being near her and feeling her kindness gave Raihan's heart the strength to carry on. She lived through a painful day, filled with memories and dreams that had been lost. When the Taliban took over the government, the country’s economic, social, political, and cultural conditions began to deteriorate. Chaos took hold, and people were caught up in their lives, overwhelmed by disorder and uncertainty. Human beings are always in search of those with whom the good and bad moments of life become bearable; those with whom they can share both joy and sorrow. Whenever Raihan thought of Mursal, a smile appeared on her lips. She was the sugar and sweetness of Raihan’s heart; her jokes and laughter brought cheer to Raihan’s moments of longing. They called Mursal the “Pythagoras of the math class,” and everyone would say, “We’re waiting for your next formula, dear Pythagoras!” The only person who could ease Raihan’s worries and inner doubts was her tall and graceful friend, Rana. Raihan was often amazed by her intelligence and sharp mind; there was a hidden meaning behind every idea she shared. Hadia, the kind-hearted one, was Raihan’s companion in moments of restlessness, she listened more than she spoke. She paid close attention to her friends’ conversations and was deeply committed to her studies. The four of them shared a deep and close bond, filled with countless memories from school, with their teachers, classmates, and exams. Football and walking together were their favorite leisure activities. During exam season, they studied side by side. Their exam results were always good, and they shared their success with their families to gain even more support. An indescribable love and affection flowed between each one of them. All four girls had beautiful dreams and goals. They studied the subjects of eleventh grade with excitement and enthusiasm to prepare for the Kankor entrance exam. Together, they planned for graduation and continuing their education. After the Kankor exam, they hoped to enter Kabul University and study in their chosen fields. Raihan was a strong and courageous girl. She always managed her tasks with order and precision. She was one of the best, most capable, and intelligent students in the class. All the teachers loved her; with her kindness and pleasant demeanor, she was beloved by everyone. She treated her friends with warmth and was always there for them in difficult times. Hadia, with her sweet smile, was generous to her younger brothers and sisters. She preferred to take care of her own responsibilities and helped her mother with household tasks. She wanted to be a useful and impactful person in both her family and society.

Photo: AP/variety In the silent streets of Kabul, where women’s performances once echoed before the camera, a heavy silence now fills the air. Afghan women actresses, who had managed to enter the world of art despite years of social and cultural pressure, have once again been pushed to the margins. Through their anti-women restrictions, the Taliban appear to have turned time backwards. Kobra Hashemi is one of these women actresses; a woman who supported her family by acting in films and television series, but now gazes helplessly at the four walls of her home. Kobra told Zan News: “The Taliban not only prevent me from artistic activity, but have also forced me to remain at home. Art was my only means of livelihood, and now it has been taken away from me.” But Kobra is not alone. Shazia Farahmand, another actress, recalls the days when she had already been threatened by the Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. “They told me that my face should no longer appear in films. Now, even my participation in television programmes is forbidden. They want to silence our voices, as if we do not exist at all.” Meanwhile, Khadija Naimi, a woman who is both a mother and the sole breadwinner of her family, recounts her difficult living conditions to Zan News in a trembling voice. “I have no husband, no one to bring food home. Through art, I was able to feed my four daughters. But now… we go to bed hungry at night.” These accounts are only a few among hundreds of women whose voices have been lost within the high walls of politics and extremism; women for whom art was not only a passion but a means of survival. Today, the curtain has fallen, and the lights of the cameras have gone dark, not by choice but by force. Afghan women actresses once again stand amid darkness, holding on to the hope that still lives in their hearts.

Photo: UNICEF/Munir Tanweer The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that hunger in Afghanistan is worsening, with malnutrition among children rising rapidly. In a post on X on Monday (October 20), the agency said that due to funding shortages, it can reach only a small portion of those in need and urgently requires support before winter arrives. The WFP stressed that “every child has the right to sufficient and nutritious food,” but in Afghanistan, this right has been denied to millions of children. It further noted that nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life plays a vital role in physical and mental development, and a lack of essential nutrients during this period can affect health, learning, and future income. Earlier, the WFP said it urgently needs 622 million dollars to continue its operations in Afghanistan. Without this funding, millions of people will face a humanitarian crisis in the coming winter. According to reports by UN-affiliated agencies, more than 9.5 million people in Afghanistan are experiencing severe food insecurity, with about 1.5 million in an emergency phase. The crisis has particularly affected women and children; statistics indicate that over 14 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition, and at least 500,000 children could die of hunger this year. Restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women, the decline in international aid, economic collapse, widespread unemployment, and natural disasters are among the main factors contributing to this crisis.

Photo: Ariana News/EU Gilles Bertrand, the European Union’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan, has described the human rights situation in the country, particularly for women, as worrying at the end of his six-day visit to Kabul. He called the Taliban’s decision to ban women from working in UN offices “a negative signal to the international community” and urged the group to reconsider its restrictions. In a statement issued on Sunday (October 19), Bertrand said that the Taliban’s limitations on humanitarian organisations have made aid delivery in Afghanistan difficult and costly. According to him, since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the European Union has allocated more than 1.8 billion euros for humanitarian aid, health, education and economic development in Afghanistan. He added that a new package worth 83 million euros has also been allocated to support the private sector, create jobs, promote education and health, and strengthen women’s economic empowerment. The EU envoy also reaffirmed support for media freedom in his statement. He expressed concern over the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban and Pakistan to exercise restraint and protect civilians.

Image: GETTY IMAGES The United Nations, emphasizing the right to security for all women and girls, has called on governments to implement protective laws and invest in preventing gender-based violence. UN Women on Sunday (October 19) wrote in a post on the social network X: “Every woman and girl has the right to feel safe everywhere.” The organization emphasized that governments must, by effectively enforcing laws and ending the impunity of perpetrators of violence, work to create a world free from fear and discrimination. This message comes as women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule are deprived of their most basic human rights. Afghanistan today is the only country where girls above the sixth grade are banned from education, a restriction that has kept more than 2.2 million girls out of school and threatens the future of the young generation. The Taliban have also banned women from working in most public and private institutions and prohibited their presence in public spaces, including parks, gyms, and television programs. These widespread bans have pushed the lives of women and girls to the margins and increased poverty, forced marriage, and domestic violence. Human rights activists say the Taliban’s policies against women constitute “gender apartheid,” and their continuation poses a serious threat to the social and human future of Afghanistan.

image source: wikipedia The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has condemned the Taliban’s suspension of Shamshad Television’s operations, calling it “a direct interference in media affairs.” In a statement issued on Saturday (October 18), the organization said that the Taliban’s intelligence agency halted Shamshad TV’s broadcasts due to its “failure to cover border clashes with Pakistan and its lack of support for the Taliban.” The Center urged the Taliban to immediately allow the network to resume its operations. Shamshad TV was shut down on Friday night (October 17) by order of Taliban security institutions in Kabul “until further notice.” Its radio, social media pages, and news sections were also suspended simultaneously. According to some sources, the order to suspend the channel was issued by Taliban security authorities in Kandahar, where the group’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada is based. Shamshad TV is one of Afghanistan’s most established and widely viewed media outlets, broadcasting news, cultural, and social programs in Pashto since 2006. Since the Taliban’s return to power, severe media censorship, journalist detentions, threats against media managers, and economic restrictions have forced dozens of domestic outlets to shut down. The closure of Shamshad TV marks yet another example of the growing pressure on press freedom in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Image: AP The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that Afghanistan is facing one of the worst hunger crises in the world. In a post on X on Thursday (October 16), the organization stated: “9.5 million people in Afghanistan are experiencing severe food insecurity, and one in every five people does not know where their next meal will come from.” OCHA warned that women and children are the most affected by this crisis, and without urgent funding, millions are at risk of severe malnutrition. Earlier, the World Food Programme (WFP) had also warned that the hunger crisis in Afghanistan is deepening by the day. According to WFP statistics, more than 7.4 million women and children in the country require immediate treatment for malnutrition. The agency further projected that in 2025, more than 3.5 million children under the age of five could suffer from acute malnutrition.