Zan News: The Taliban’s Supreme Court announced that a woman in Faryab province was publicly flogged on charges of “illicit relations” and “running away from home.” Illustration: Zan TV / AI-generated A Woman Publicly Flogged by the Taliban in Faryab September 30, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Taliban’s Supreme Court announced that a woman in Faryab province was publicly flogged on charges of “illicit relations” and “running away from home.” According to the court, the flogging sentence was carried out on Sunday (September 29) based on the decision of the Criminal Court of Appeals in Faryab province and after the approval of the Taliban’s Chief Justice. The court stated that the woman received 30 lashes and was also sentenced to six months of imprisonment. Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, the group has repeatedly carried out public corporal punishments and, in several instances, executed accused individuals. International human rights organizations consider such punishments to be violations of international laws and human dignity, and they have called for their cessation.

Zan News: The Taliban's Supreme Court announced that a woman in Sar-e Pol province has been punished on charges of extramarital relations. Illustration: Zan TV / AI-generated Taliban Flog a Woman in Sar-e Pol September 16, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Taliban's Supreme Court announced that a woman in Sar-e Pol province has been punished on charges of extramarital relations. According to a statement released by the court on Sunday (September 15), the woman was sentenced to six months in prison and 39 lashes. This punishment was carried out based on the decision of the primary court in the Kohistan district of Sar-e Pol province. Last week, the Taliban also sentenced a woman in Ghor province to two years in prison on charges of fleeing her home. The corporal punishments carried out by the Taliban on citizens have consistently been criticized by United Nations human rights experts and other international organizations.

Zan News: The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that a woman in the Bak district of Khost province was publicly flogged on charges of "moral corruption." Illustration: Zan TV / AI-generated A Woman in Khost Was Flogged in Public by the Taliban November 20, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that a woman in the Bak district of Khost province was publicly flogged on charges of "moral corruption." In a statement, the court indicated that the flogging sentence was carried out on Tuesday (November 19) based on the ruling of the primary court of Bak district, Khost province. The statement from the Taliban's Supreme Court further noted that the woman was flogged 39 times and, in addition, sentenced to five months of imprisonment. The flogging sentence was carried out in the presence of local Taliban officials, employees, and a number of local residents. This comes two days ago, another woman was publicly flogged by the Taliban in the center of Baghlan province.

Zan News: The Taliban's Supreme Court has announced that the flogging sentence for five individuals, including a woman, has been carried out in public in Maidan Wardak province. File photo: Pixabay / CC0 Public Domain Execution of Flogging Sentence on Five People, Including a Woman, in Maidan Wardak October 15, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Taliban's Supreme Court has announced that the flogging sentence for five individuals, including a woman, has been carried out in public in Maidan Wardak province. According to the court’s announcement, these individuals were convicted of theft and "illicit relations." The announcement adds that two of the accused were sentenced to one month in prison and 25 lashes each in the center of Maidan Wardak, while three others in the Daimirdad district were sentenced to 25 lashes each. The flogging of these individuals was carried out in public over the past two days. It is worth noting that after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, they resumed the public execution of corporal punishments, an action that has faced severe criticism from human rights organizations. These organizations have condemned such punishments as violations of international law and human dignity, calling for their immediate cessation. However, the Taliban claim that these rulings are issued and carried out based on Islamic Sharia law.

Zan News: Sources in west Kabul have reported the suicide of a young woman in the Mahdia Town. Illustrative file photo: Spc. Jeffery J. Harris / U.S. Army Reserve / DVIDS / Public Domain Suicide of a Young Woman in West Kabul February 8, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Sources in west Kabul have reported the suicide of a young woman in the Mahdia Town. According to the sources, the incident occurred last night, Friday (7 February). Sources told media outlets that the woman, who had one child, ended her life due to "severe domestic violence." It is reported that the Taliban transferred her body to a forensic department for investigation. No details regarding her identity or age have been provided, and Taliban security officials in Kabul have not yet commented on the matter. It is worth noting that poverty, unemployment, domestic violence, and the severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban against women are considered among the primary factors contributing to suicide cases in the country.

Zan News: The Afghanistan United Women’s Organization has issued a statement expressing deep concern over the situation of political prisoners in Taliban-controlled prisons and has called for their immediate and unconditional release. Illustration: Zan TV / AI-generated Afghanistan United Women’s Organization Calls for Immediate Release of Political Prisoners from Taliban Prisons January 29, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The Afghanistan United Women’s Organization has issued a statement expressing deep concern over the situation of political prisoners in Taliban-controlled prisons and has called for their immediate and unconditional release. Members of the organization emphasized that political prisoners should not be detained by the Taliban for expressing their beliefs, as they represent the voice of the Afghan people advocating for freedom and justice. The statement asserts that arresting citizens for their political views is a blatant violation of human rights and urges the international community to demand the unconditional release of political prisoners from the Taliban. It is worth noting that since their return to power, the Taliban have arrested and imprisoned dozens of Afghan citizens for expressing opinions on social media and in the press—an issue that has consistently drawn strong reactions from human rights activists.

Zan News: The Union of Human Rights Activists in Europe has issued a statement warning about the increasing activity of individuals allegedly collaborating with the Taliban. Illustration: Zan TV / AI-generated Human Rights Activists’ Union Warns of Growing Presence of Pro-Taliban Media Figures April 15, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The Union of Human Rights Activists in Europe has issued a statement warning about the increasing activity of individuals allegedly collaborating with the Taliban. In the statement, published on Tuesday, April 15, the union said that a number of individuals presenting themselves as journalists, analysts, or civil society activists have traveled to Kabul in recent months and participated in official Taliban events—even in ceremonies honoring the group’s "suicide brigades." The union warned that these individuals are exploiting the free media space in the West to promote a softened, humanized, and even “progressive” image of the Taliban. According to the union, such efforts are a deliberate attempt to legitimize a regime that is a serious violator of human rights, especially the rights of women, children, and minorities. The statement also noted that this trend poses a serious threat to human rights values and the psychological well-being of Afghan migrants in European countries, particularly in Germany. The Human Rights Activists’ Union called on European governments—especially the German Federal Government—to closely review the immigration cases of such individuals and impose legal restrictions to prevent political and propaganda misuse. The union warned that remaining silent on this issue is not only a betrayal of universal human rights principles but also a threat to the safety of thousands of Afghan asylum seekers who have fled Taliban persecution.

Zan News: The White House Press Deputy has stated that Afghan women have faced severe oppression and medieval policies under the Taliban following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Illustration: Zan TV / AI-generated White House Press Deputy: Afghan Women Face Medieval Taliban Policies After U.S. Withdrawal February 22, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The White House Press Deputy has stated that Afghan women have faced severe oppression and medieval policies under the Taliban following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. Anna Kelly, the White House Press Deputy, in an interview with The Washington Post, said, "The disastrous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan during President Joe Biden's administration allowed the Taliban to take control of the country and impose strict Sharia laws on its citizens." She also discussed the impact of the halt in U.S. foreign aid on the education of Afghan women. It is worth noting that Donald Trump, the former U.S. President, ordered the suspension of all U.S. foreign aid early in his presidency. This decision had widespread effects on humanitarian and educational programs worldwide, with Afghanistan being one of the most affected countries. According to The Washington Post, many educational programs for Afghan women, including online courses and scholarships for studying abroad, have been halted following the suspension of U.S. foreign aid. These programs were often the last hope for thousands of Afghan women and girls who were barred from attending schools and universities after the Taliban's return to power. Between 2005 and 2019, the U.S. invested approximately $167 million in the American University of Afghanistan. The university, which has now relocated to Doha, Qatar, was one of the largest providers of online education for Afghan women. However, the university recently announced the suspension of its Spring 2025 semester, a decision affecting around 700 students. Additionally, the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh, which had become a lifeline for many Afghan women, has delayed the admission of 330 new students due to the suspension of U.S. foreign aid. International organizations and human rights groups have expressed deep concern about the future of education for Afghan women. A UN official warned that the halt in U.S. foreign aid could worsen the situation for Afghan women and girls, completely cutting off their access to education. The suspension of U.S. foreign aid has not only eliminated educational opportunities for Afghan women but will also exacerbated a broader economic crisis in the country. As the future of women's education in Afghanistan hangs in the balance, there are growing calls for international efforts to restore support and protect the rights of women and girls in the country.

Zan News: Hsiao-Wei Lee, the World Food Programme (WFP) Director for Afghanistan, stated that behind all the stories of female entrepreneurs in this country lies a "desire for education." File photo: Staff Sgt. Russell Lee Klika / U.S. Army National Guard / Public Domain World Food Programme Director: The World Has Not Forgotten Afghan Women and Girls July 30, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Hsiao-Wei Lee, the World Food Programme (WFP) Director for Afghanistan, stated that behind all the stories of female entrepreneurs in this country lies a "desire for education." In a video published on its X account, the World Food Program announced that Wei Lee met with girls and women who have been deprived of education and are now involved in small businesses. During the visit, Wei Lee said that the WFP has supported hundreds of women in areas such as food preparation, poultry farming, and sewing skills training, providing them with employment opportunities. Welcoming the progress of women's and girls' skills in Afghanistan, she added that female tailors have now gained the necessary skills for fashion design, started their own businesses, and are selling their products. Wei Lee noted that behind all these positive stories, there is also a hidden, sorrowful narrative. According to Wei Lee, a young girl involved in poultry farming expressed her desire to continue her education. This girl mentioned that a few years ago, she was about to finish seventh grade but was prevented from continuing her studies due to Taliban restrictions. The WFP Director for Afghanistan said, "Girls in Afghanistan are charting a new path for themselves, but this is not necessarily what they wanted. We continue to help them reclaim their representation and show them that the world has not forgotten them." It is noteworthy that since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, girls and women have been barred from higher education and many other restrictions have been imposed on them.

Zan News: The European Union Delegation to Afghanistan has once again emphasized its commitment to supporting the rights of all Afghans. Illustration: Zan TV / AI-generated European Union Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting the Human Rights of Afghans December 11, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The European Union Delegation to Afghanistan has once again emphasized its commitment to supporting the rights of all Afghans. On Tuesday (December 10), in observance of Human Rights Day, the delegation published a message on social media (X), stressing: "Human rights are vital for building a strong country and the prosperity of the Afghan people." The message continued: "On Human Rights Day, the European Union reaffirms its commitment to supporting the human rights of all Afghans, particularly the rights of Afghan women to work and study." This comes as the Taliban has deprived the citizens of Afghanistan of their basic rights, especially in areas such as education, work, and employment, over the past three years. The group has consistently been accused of widespread human rights violations.