Zan News: Hamid Karzai, the former President of Afghanistan, welcomed the final statement of the international conference "Girls' Education in Islamic Societies," which was recently held in Islamabad. Photo: Sean Gallup | Getty Images Hamid Karzai Welcomes the Final Statement of the International Girls' Education Conference in Islamic Societies January 13, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Hamid Karzai, the former President of Afghanistan, welcomed the final statement of the international conference "Girls' Education in Islamic Societies," which was recently held in Islamabad. On Monday (January 13), Karzai expressed on his X account that girls' education is a fundamental and undeniable right, stressing that preventing it is against the national interests and the greater good of the country. He added that providing education for all the youth of Afghanistan not only revives the hope of a dignified life in the country but can also prevent forced migration and place Afghanistan on the path to progress and development. The former president of Afghanistan also emphasized that Afghanistan’s reliance on the knowledge and talents of its children will be key to creating a better and stronger future for the country. This comes at a time when the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting titled "Girls’ Education in Islamic Societies" was held on January 11 and 12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, without the presence of the Taliban and with an emphasis on the importance of girls' education in Islamic countries. The final statement of this conference mentioned that women’s education in Islamic countries is supported by religion, constitutions, and international laws. While the statement did not directly reference the ban on women's education in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, it opposed the prohibition of women's education in Islamic countries.

Zan News: Human Rights Watch, in a 26-page report titled "Double Betrayal: Abuse of Female Police in the Past and Present," has stated that female police officers have been abused and threatened under both the previous regime and the Taliban. Photo: flickr Human Rights Watch: Female Police Officers Abused Under Previous Regime and Taliban October 10, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Human Rights Watch, in a 26-page report titled "Double Betrayal: Abuse of Female Police in the Past and Present," has stated that female police officers have been abused and threatened under both the previous regime and the Taliban. The organization, in its report released on Thursday (October 10), stated that Taliban officials have threatened female police officers from the previous regime. The report documents threats made by Taliban officials over the past three years, based on interviews with several female police officers both inside and outside the country. The report states, "Female police in Afghanistan have been doubly betrayed; first by the previous government whose officials were responsible for widespread sexual abuse, and then by the Taliban, who have threatened them." Interviewees said they received "frightening" phone calls from Taliban officials demanding information about their previous work. According to the report, these women have been forced to go into hiding due to Taliban threats. The report also notes, "Hundreds of female police officers, while employed by the previous government, were harassed and sexually assaulted by male colleagues and superiors." Additionally, the Taliban have not investigated the murders of several female police officers by their relatives. Most of these former female officers are now living in limbo in countries like Iran and Pakistan. Human Rights Watch has called on countries that supported training and employment programs for female police in Afghanistan to provide support to these former female officers. It is worth noting that reports of threats against former female police officers by the Taliban have been published before.

Zan News: Local sources in Ghor Province have reported the suicide of a young girl in the center of the province. Photo: Freepik A 19-Year-Old Girl in Ghor Commits Suicide Over Forced Marriage February 22, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Ghor Province have reported the suicide of a young girl in the center of the province. The girl, named Samiah, was 19 years old and hanged herself on Thursday evening (February 20) in the "Dahan-e-Akhtah Khana" area in the west of Firozkoh, following a verbal argument with her father. According to reports, Samiah had been engaged to a man a year ago but did not love him. A local source cited her opposition to the forced marriage as the reason for her suicide. The source added that the Taliban have detained Samiah's brother and mother. However, local Taliban officials in Ghor have not yet commented on the incident. It is worth noting that forced marriages and domestic violence are recognized as major factors leading to suicide among girls and women in Afghanistan.

Zan News: Local sources in Takhar province report that a 17-year-old girl ended her life by consuming rat poison in the provincial center. Social Media 17-Year-Old Girl Commits Suicide in Takhar December 17, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Takhar province report that a 17-year-old girl ended her life by consuming rat poison in the provincial center. According to the sources, the incident occurred on Monday evening (December 16) in the "Khatayan" area of Taluqan, the capital of Takhar province. The sources added that the girl took her own life because her family had engaged her to a man without her consent. It has been reported that the Taliban transferred the girl’s body to the forensic department at the Takhar Provincial Hospital for further investigation. However, Taliban officials in Takhar have yet to comment on the matter. It is worth noting that cases of forced marriages and domestic violence against women have significantly increased since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.

Zan News: Fawzia Koofi, former member of Afghanistan’s parliament, called for urgent support for at-risk Afghan refugees in Pakistan during a meeting with Pakistani officials in Islamabad on Saturday, April 12. Social Media Fawzia Koofi Calls for Urgent Support for Afghan Refugees in Meeting with Pakistani Officials April 13, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Fawzia Koofi, former member of Afghanistan’s parliament, called for urgent support for at-risk Afghan refugees in Pakistan during a meeting with Pakistani officials in Islamabad on Saturday, April 12. She met with Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, Hina Rabbani Khar, and members of the country’s parliamentary foreign relations committee, along with several Afghan human rights activists and journalists based in Islamabad. According to a statement released after the meeting, a five-point proposal to support Afghan migrants and refugees was presented to Pakistani officials. The statement says that many Afghan refugees were forced to flee the country due to direct threats from the Taliban, but are now living in a state of uncertainty in Pakistan, without access to basic services or proper legal protection. The representatives at the meeting proposed compiling a list of individuals at risk who are registered with international organizations to prevent their deportation. They also called on the Pakistani government to facilitate the issuance and renewal of visas for these individuals and to grant them a minimum six-month validity. This comes as the Pakistani government had set April 10 as the deadline for the return of holders of the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC), but began mass deportations even before this deadline. Despite pressure and appeals from human rights organizations, Pakistan continues to forcibly deport Afghan refugees. Thousands of Afghans who sought refuge in Pakistan after the Taliban’s takeover are now at risk of arrest or forced return to Afghanistan.

Zan News - Jowzjan: Following a traffic accident on the Jowzjan-Faryab highway, eight members of a family lost their lives. Traffic Accident in Jowzjan: Eight Family Members Die July 8, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Jowzjan: Following a traffic accident on the Jowzjan-Faryab highway, eight members of a family lost their lives. Shabir Ahmad Saeedi, the Taliban traffic manager in Jowzjan, said that the accident occurred on the evening of Sunday, July 7, in the Khwaja Du Koh district of this province. The victims included one woman, four children, and three men. According to Saeedi, the accident happened due to a collision between a passenger vehicle and a oil tanker truck. The cause of the accident is not yet known. It is noteworthy that traffic accidents in Afghanistan annually claim hundreds of lives and leave hundreds injured. Driver negligence, poor road conditions, and lack of traffic signs are among the main causes of these accidents.

Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Parwan province have reported an outbreak of an unknown and ‘contagious’ disease in the Ghorband Valley of this province. Image: 8am.media Outbreak of Unknown Disease in Parwan; 500 Infected and Two Dead in the Past 24 Hours September 25, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Parwan province have reported an outbreak of an unknown and ‘contagious’ disease in the Ghorband Valley of this province. Hekmatullah Shamim, the spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Parwan, said on Wednesday (September 25) that at least 500 people in the Kafshan Valley of Shinwari district have been infected with this disease in the past 24 hours. According to Shamim, this disease has so far claimed the lives of two people, and the health condition of 50 others is reported to be critical. He added that the infected individuals are suffering from general physical weakness, severe pain in the hands and feet, severe diarrhea, and high fever. On the other hand, residents of Shinwari district in Parwan say that the number of infected people is increasing and they are calling for immediate assistance from international organizations, especially the World Health Organization. They warned that if medical aid does not arrive on time, the death toll from this disease will increase."

Zan News: Members of the "Afghanistan Women's Freedom Window Movement" have condemned the dire state of women's rights in Afghanistan and called on the international community to cease supporting the Taliban and to "be a voice for truth and justice, not for oppression and crime" in a protest rally marking the third anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. Sent to Zan News Afghanistan Women's Freedom Window Movement: Continued Support for the Taliban Will Pose a Serious Threat to the Future of the World August 14, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Members of the "Afghanistan Women's Freedom Window Movement" have condemned the dire state of women's rights in Afghanistan and called on the international community to cease supporting the Taliban and to "be a voice for truth and justice, not for oppression and crime" in a protest rally marking the third anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. In a statement released today, Wednesday (August 14), the protesters highlighted that since the fall of the Republic and the Taliban's return to power, Afghan women have faced a "suffocating and dark" environment that has deprived them of basic rights in social, political, cultural, and educational spheres. The statement refers to severe human rights violations and notes that thousands of women have experienced "torture, abuse, sexual violence, and ruthless killings" during the Taliban's rule. The Afghanistan Women's Freedom Window Movement also stated that despite the Taliban's three years in power violating all global principles, covenants, and declarations, their legacy has been "nothing but murder, mass killings of innocent people, forced displacement of religious and ethnic minorities, and silencing the voices of Afghan men and women." The movement has called on the international community and human rights organizations to avoid engaging with the Taliban and to stop supporting this "terrorist group." They emphasized that continued financial support for the Taliban will pose a serious threat to the future of the world. The Afghanistan Women's Freedom Window Movement has urged countries and international organizations to show solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, especially women, and to amplify the voice of truth and justice.

Zan News: The Purple Saturdays Movement, in a statement, strongly condemned the systematic violation of human rights by the Taliban and the inaction of the international community, calling for immediate international action. Simultaneously with the release of the statement, members of the movement set fire to images of Taliban leaders and called on the people of Afghanistan to rise up against the "illegitimate and misogynistic" Taliban regime. Sent to Zan TV Purple Saturdays Movement Calls for Uprising by Burning Images of Taliban Leaders February 1, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The Purple Saturdays Movement, in a statement, strongly condemned the systematic violation of human rights by the Taliban and the inaction of the international community, calling for immediate international action. Simultaneously with the release of the statement, members of the movement set fire to images of Taliban leaders and called on the people of Afghanistan to rise up against the "illegitimate and misogynistic" Taliban regime. In the statement, published on Friday (31 January), the Purple Saturdays Movement emphasized that "over the past three years, the Taliban have continued to commit organized crimes against humanity by establishing a system of structural discrimination against women, conducting hundreds of desert courts involving women and children under 18, carrying out inhumane torture, forced displacement, and targeted killings of civilians in provinces such as Parwan, Kapisa, and Panjshir." The movement described these actions as part of the Taliban's repressive, vengeful, and "ethnic cleansing" policies, which, they said, have largely gone unreported by the media. The statement criticized the "disastrous delay and blatant avoidance of responsibility" by the international community and the United Nations, warning that this silence has allowed the Taliban to expand their crimes without accountability. The movement called on the United Nations, Amnesty International, the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the international community to promptly initiate impartial and transparent investigations into the Taliban's war crimes, civilian killings, and systematic torture. Simultaneously with the release of the statement, members of the Purple Saturdays Movement set fire to images of Taliban leaders, including Hibatullah Akhundzada. A member of the movement, referring to the deprivation of women from "all human and Islamic rights," addressed the people of Afghanistan, saying: "We declare our anger and hatred towards the terrorist group Taliban with cries for justice, fairness, and freedom. We urge you not to fear the Taliban and to rise up against the illegitimate, mono-ethnic, mono-gender, and misogynistic regime that has turned Islam and Sharia into tools of oppression." The movement, highlighting the "deplorable" conditions in the Taliban's intelligence agency prisons, where thousands are reportedly tortured due to their ethnicity or language, called for immediate international oversight of these facilities.

Zan News: The "Afghanistan Women's Political Participation Network" issued a statement welcoming and appreciating the Canadian government's declaration supporting women, civil society, and ethnic and religious minorities at the third meeting of special representatives on Afghanistan, hosted by the United Nations in Doha, Qatar. Women's Political Participation Network Welcomes Canada's Stance on Supporting Women and Civil Society at the Doha Meeting July 2, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The "Afghanistan Women's Political Participation Network" issued a statement welcoming and appreciating the Canadian government's declaration supporting women, civil society, and ethnic and religious minorities at the third meeting of special representatives on Afghanistan, hosted by the United Nations in Doha, Qatar. The Canadian government’s statement, that released regarding the participation of David Sproule, Canada's Special Envoy for Afghanistan, at the third Doha meeting, said, "This country is deeply disappointed that the UN organizers excluded non-Taliban Afghan participants, including women's advocates, religious and ethnic minorities, and human rights groups, from the main sessions of the meeting." Canada clearly articulated its "deep disappointment over the absence of civil society at the third Doha meeting, whether privately or in coordination with other governments." The statement emphasized that "the full, equal, and meaningful participation of Afghan women in the Doha process is not only a core principle of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda but is essential for achieving a peaceful, stable, and inclusive Afghanistan." According to the statement, none of the goals pursued by the Afghan people can be achieved without the full participation of women. The Canadian government further noted that "on the eve of the third Doha meeting, it consulted with Afghan civil society, human rights groups, and women to hear their concerns and used its platform to amplify the messages of those who bravely spoke out against human rights abuses by the Taliban but were not invited to the main sessions." In response, the "Afghanistan Women's Political Participation Network" expressed gratitude and appreciation for Canada's stance. The network also expressed concern over the UN's actions and international community engagement with and support for the Taliban. The network’s statement said: "The international community, by inviting the Taliban to the Doha meeting, has once again demonstrated that it does not value the future and fate of millions of Afghan women and girls. It is willing to engage with the Taliban, the enemy of the Afghan people, to achieve its goals and is prepared to sacrifice the people of Afghanistan for its bilateral policies. We, the people of Afghanistan, do not want the misogynistic and fundamentalist Taliban group and will never grant it legitimacy or recognition."