Zan News: A group of women protestors have issued a statement harshly condemning the support of Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, for the non-participation of women in the third Doha meeting, accusing her of whitewashing the Taliban. Protesting Women: Roza Otunbayeva Whitewashes the Taliban June 23, 2024 Zan News Zan News: A group of women protestors have issued a statement harshly condemning the support of Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan, for the non-participation of women in the third Doha meeting, accusing her of whitewashing the Taliban. In the statement released on Sunday (June 23), these women accused Otunbayeva of normalizing the Taliban's actions in Afghanistan and called her statements a "betrayal" of Afghanistan women and girls. It is worth noting that Otunbayeva said on Friday (June 21) at a UN Security Council meeting that the demands of Afghan women would be raised by the special representatives of 22 countries for Afghanistan with the Taliban at the third Doha meeting, despite their absence. The protesting women emphasized that holding the third Doha meeting without the presence of their representatives is unacceptable, given the widespread human rights abuses against women and girls by the Taliban. This comes as one of the conditions for the Taliban's participation in the third Doha meeting is the non-participation of representatives of Afghanistan women protesters. The absence of Afghanistan women from this meeting has been met with strong criticism from human rights organizations. Agnès Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International, has also said that the failure to adequately address the human rights crisis in Afghanistan and the lack of participation of women human rights defenders and other civil society stakeholders from Afghanistan will undermine the credibility of this meeting. Earlier, Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Acting Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations, had called the exclusion of women from the Doha meeting agenda "disappointing." The third Doha meeting with the participation of the Taliban is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, later this month.

Zan News - Herat: Local sources in Herat report that the Taliban have imposed new restrictions on families, especially women, in the province. Taliban in Herat Ban Women and Men from Entering Restaurants Without a Marriage Certificate May 27, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Herat: Local sources in Herat report that the Taliban have imposed new restrictions on families, especially women, in the province. According to these sources, the Taliban's Department of Virtue and Prohibition of Vice in Herat has ordered restaurants in the province to refuse entry to men and women who are not accompanied by a marriage certificate. One woman in Herat, speaking to a media outlet, described her experience in this regard: yesterday, she went to a restaurant with her husband and child for lunch, but they were denied entry because they did not have a marriage certificate. So far, Taliban officials in Herat have not officially commented on the matter. This Taliban action comes after the group's Ministry of Virtue and Prohibition of Vice previously banned women from going to amusement parks. Over the past three years, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions on girls and women in Afghanistan. These restrictions include banning girls from attending school above the sixth grade and not allowing girls to enter universities.

Zan News: Afghan refugees in Tehran, on the brink of the third anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, issued a statement urging the international community to assist the people of Afghanistan and take serious measures to address the humanitarian, economic, and security crises in the country. Sent to Zan News Afghan Refugees in Tehran: Engagement with the Taliban is a Violation of the UN Charter and International Conventions August 12, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Afghan refugees in Tehran, on the brink of the third anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, issued a statement urging the international community to assist the people of Afghanistan and take serious measures to address the humanitarian, economic, and security crises in the country. The Afghan refugees declared that August 15, 2021, is a dark and sorrowful day in Afghan history. They emphasized that on this day, the efforts of the Afghan people to establish democracy and the rule of law were destroyed, and with the support of "foreigners," the country was surrendered to the Taliban, resulting in the destruction of two decades of progress. The statement highlighted the severe deterioration of human rights in Afghanistan. The Afghan refugees expressed concern over the severe restrictions on individual and social freedoms, the deprivation of women’s right to education and work, and the increase in violence against civil activists and political opponents. They believe that Taliban control has turned Afghanistan into a "safe haven for terrorist groups." The statement also addressed the dire economic situation in the country, noting increased poverty, unemployment, and migration. The refugees believe that "the Taliban's mismanagement and the limitation of international aid in the axis of strengthening the sovereignty of this group, have led to the collapse of Afghanistan's economy." The Afghan refugees in Tehran further highlighted the widespread migration crisis, stating that since the Taliban's takeover, about eight million Afghan citizens have been forced to leave the country, and the migration wave to neighboring countries and other parts of the world continues due to the "oppression and tyranny" of the Taliban. They called for greater support from the United Nations for Afghan refugees. The statement concluded that "the Taliban have turned Afghanistan into a haven for terrorist groups that threaten global and regional security." In the final part of the statement, the refugees expressed that the Afghan people seek the establishment of an inclusive government under UN supervision and support for human and democratic rights, emphasizing that engagement with the Taliban is a violation of the UN Charter and international conventions.

Zan News - Badghis: A 17-year-old girl was killed by her father and brother in Badghis province due to her refusal to accept a forced marriage. Photo: koldo hormaza from madrid, españa - flickr Teenage Girl Killed for Refusing Forced Marriage in Badghis September 10, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Badghis: A 17-year-old girl was killed by her father and brother in Badghis province due to her refusal to accept a forced marriage. Local sources in Badghis reported on Monday (September 9) that the incident occurred in the village of Sheshmanihai Boyeh, in the Qadis district of the province. According to the sources, the girl was tortured by her father and brother after she opposed the forced marriage and was then strangled to death. Local Taliban officials in Badghis have not yet commented on the incident. This incident comes amid an increase in forced marriages in the country following the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan.

Zan News: The United Nations has highlighted the concerning situation faced by women journalists in Afghanistan in its latest report. New UN Report: Women Journalists in Afghanistan Face Severe Restrictions June 22, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The United Nations has highlighted the concerning situation faced by women journalists in Afghanistan in its latest report. Presented by António Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, during a Security Council meeting on Friday (June 21), the report reveals that women journalists in Afghanistan encounter severe limitations. According to the report, fundamental rights and freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan remain severely restricted. At the beginning of the new school year, girls above the sixth grade continued to face prohibitions and were unable to attend school this year. The report also mentions that during the inauguration ceremony of the new school year in Afghanistan, the Taliban's Ministry of Education instructed female journalists not to participate in media coverage of the event citing "lack of a suitable place." The report underscores severe restrictions on basic freedoms, including access to information and freedom of movement for women journalists in Afghanistan. As per the report, journalists and media personnel are arbitrarily detained, and the broadcasts of two television networks have been suspended. Additionally, the report points to ongoing threats by the Taliban against officials and former Afghan military personnel, including arbitrary detention, torture, mistreatment, and executions. The report notes that in February of this year, the Taliban publicly executed three individuals through the decisions of three Taliban courts, approved by the group's leadership. This report comes ahead of the third UN session on Afghanistan scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar's capital, in two weeks. It has been reported that Afghan women representatives and civil society have not been invited to this session.

Zan News: Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has called for the inclusion of Afghan women footballers in international competitions. Photo: UN Photo/Mark Garten UN Special Rapporteur Calls on FIFA to Support Afghan Women Footballers March 26, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has called for the inclusion of Afghan women footballers in international competitions. On Wednesday (26 March), Mr. Bennett urged the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to break its silence in the face of the Taliban’s gender oppression and to create opportunities for Afghan women footballers to participate in global competitions. This appeal comes after the Sports and Rights Union previously requested FIFA to facilitate the participation of Afghan women footballers living in exile in international tournaments. However, FIFA has not yet responded to these demands. It is noteworthy that following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, many Afghan women footballers were forced to leave the country and are now barred from participating in international competitions. The Taliban have banned all women's sports activities in Afghanistan.

Zan News: Two Afghan women journalists, Waslat Zahi Khan, a former reporter for the 8am newspaper, and Zarghona Salehi, a reporter for Pajhwok News Agency, have been named winners of the fourth round of the "Ladli for Gender Sensitivity" award in 2024. Social media Two Afghan Women Journalists Win "Ladli" Award October 13, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Two Afghan women journalists, Waslat Zahi Khan, a former reporter for the 8am newspaper, and Zarghona Salehi, a reporter for Pajhwok News Agency, have been named winners of the fourth round of the "Ladli for Gender Sensitivity" award in 2024. The two journalists received the award on Wednesday (October 9). The award was established by "Population First," a Mumbai, India-based social organization that has been promoting gender sensitivity in the media for over two decades. In addition to these two Afghan journalists, 12 other journalists from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives are also on the list of winners of this award. It is worth mentioning that the award ceremony was held on October 9, 2023, in Mumbai, India. The winning of these two Afghan women journalists comes at a time when women journalists in Afghanistan under Taliban rule face severe restrictions. Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, more than 90% of women journalists have become unemployed, and widespread obstacles have been placed in the way of women's media activities.

Zan News: Human Rights Watch, in response to the recent ISIS attack on Hazara Shias at the Daikundi-Ghor border, stated that over 700 Hazaras have been killed in targeted ISIS attacks since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. Photo: EPA Human Rights Watch: Over 700 Hazaras Killed in ISIS Attacks Since Taliban Takeover September 14, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Human Rights Watch, in response to the recent ISIS attack on Hazara Shias at the Daikundi-Ghor border, stated that over 700 Hazaras have been killed in targeted ISIS attacks since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan. On Friday night (13 September), the organization emphasized in a statement that ISIS has carried out 17 targeted attacks on Shia public places, including mosques, schools, and workplaces, during this period. According to the statement, the recent ISIS attack on Shias indicates that the Taliban must take more measures to protect religious minorities, especially Hazaras. Human Rights Watch also called on countries engaging with the Taliban to make the group accountable for these attacks. The organization further urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to take seriously the requests of Afghan and global human rights groups to establish a comprehensive international mechanism to hold the Taliban accountable for these “crimes.” It is worth mentioning that the recent ISIS attack, which resulted in the deaths of 14 people and the injury of 6 others at the Daikundi-Ghor border, has sparked widespread reactions both inside and outside Afghanistan. Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, also called for greater protection of civilians in Afghanistan during his press briefing.

Zan News - Bamyan: A young girl in Punjab District, Bamyan Province, hanged herself after being released from Taliban imprisonment. Social Media Young Girl Hangs Herself in Bamyan After Being Freed from Taliban Imprisonment July 28, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Bamyan: A young girl in Punjab District, Bamyan Province, hanged herself after being released from Taliban imprisonment. A source in Bamyan states that the girl, named "Tahira," hanged herself on Saturday (July 27). However, another source suggests the possibility that she was killed by her relatives. According to sources, a few days prior, Taliban soldiers forcibly took the girl from the village of "Tagab Barg" in Punjab District in a military Ranger vehicle and harassed her. Sources add that after the locals became aware of this, the Taliban district chief for Punjab and the Taliban's police chief in Bamyan fabricated a story, claiming that the soldiers took the girl to Bamyan for "improper hijab" from the roadside. In a written statement by Tahira, which has been made available to the media, she mentioned that she boarded the Taliban's Ranger vehicle out of fear. The Taliban's police command in Bamyan interviewed her. Sources say that the young girl was held in the Taliban's police command in Bamyan for several days and was released after repeated complaints from the locals. It is said that Tahira was 19 years old, had studied up to the ninth grade, and was currently working as a tailor. Another source claims that Tahira was a "free" girl and there is a possibility she was killed by her father or brother, but according to the source, evidence of murder has not yet been confirmed. It is worth mentioning that the person who put the girl in the vehicle is currently imprisoned in Bamyan. The source says that this individual is a member of the Taliban army battalion. This incident comes amidst multiple accusations against the Taliban for abducting and raping young girls since their return to power in Afghanistan. There have also been previous reports of individuals committing suicide after being released from Taliban captivity.

Zan News: The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that due to a budget shortfall, 600,000 pregnant women in Afghanistan will be deprived of receiving essential nutritional aid. Photo: WFP Budget Shortfall for WFP: 600,000 Pregnant Women Removed from Nutritional Aid List August 6, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that due to a budget shortfall, 600,000 pregnant women in Afghanistan will be deprived of receiving essential nutritional aid. The organization expressed concern over this situation on Monday (5 August), stating that despite distributing nutritious food to 1.6 million pregnant and breastfeeding women this year, it has been forced to remove 600,000 more pregnant women from the list due to lack of funds. This is not the first time the World Food Programme has reported a budget shortfall. Since last year, the organization has repeatedly warned that the necessary funds to assist millions of Afghans at risk of hunger have not been secured. Last year, the World Food Programme also removed approximately 10 million citizens from its list of food aid recipients due to facing a budget deficit.