Zan News: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has announced that Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Austria, has received the organization’s annual White Ribbon award for her outstanding contributions to human rights, women's rights, and freedom of expression. Manizha Bakhtari Receives OSCE Annual Award July 11, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has announced that Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Austria, has received the organization’s annual White Ribbon award for her outstanding contributions to human rights, women's rights, and freedom of expression. This award is presented annually to a permanent member or an Asian or Mediterranean partner of the OSCE for extraordinary activities in the areas of human rights, women's rights, and issues related to freedom of expression. In response to receiving this award, Bakhtari said, "I dedicate this award to the women and girls of Afghanistan and declare my commitment to supporting them without expecting any reward." The Afghan ambassador to Austria added, "For the past three years, I have persistently and continuously advocated for the women and girls of Afghanistan within this organization and in my work area in Vienna. I have organized several major programs focused on Afghan women within this organization and elsewhere. I have no expectation of reward or prize because I am merely fulfilling my human and civic responsibility towards the women and girls of Afghanistan." Bakhtari serves as Afghanistan’s official representative to the OSCE. The organization’s members nominated her for this award due to her efforts to promote human rights in Afghanistan. It is noteworthy that the OSCE is the largest intergovernmental or international organization in the field of security issues, with activities that include supporting human rights, press freedom, free and fair elections, and arms control. Bakhtari received this award at a time when the Taliban in Afghanistan have, for nearly three years, banned girls above sixth grade from attending school. The group's Ministry of Higher Education has also barred Afghan women and girls from attending universities and educational centers. These actions by the Taliban have resulted in millions of female students being deprived of education. Additionally, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, and even UN offices in Afghanistan. Despite global reactions and condemnations, the Taliban have not yet retracted their decisions regarding the prohibition of education and work for women.

Zan News: On the eve of the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan, three prominent women's rights activists have refused to participate and have boycotted the meeting. Sanction of Third Doha Meeting by Three Afghan Women's Rights Activists in Protest of Excluding Women from the Agenda June 30, 2024 Zan News Zan News: On the eve of the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan, three prominent women's rights activists have refused to participate and have boycotted the meeting. Habiba Sarabi, a member of the former government’s peace negotiation team, Nabila Musleh, former Deputy Minister of Women's Affairs, and Zubaida Akbari, a women's rights activist, are among the women who were invited by the United Nations to this meeting. However, these women have declined to participate. These women's rights activists, in separate statements, emphasized that the United Nations has ignored the human rights situation of Afghan women by excluding them from the main agenda of the Doha meeting. Habiba Sarabi, in her statement, said that the United Nations has failed to ensure the meaningful and full participation of women in the third Doha meeting. Ms. Sarabi pointed out the UN's failure to appoint a special representative for Afghanistan in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2721, adding: "The United Nations has failed in appointing a special representative for Afghanistan and ensuring the meaningful and full participation of women in the Doha meeting." Ms. Sarabi stated that the UN has sidelined Afghan women and civil society from the main of the Doha meeting and arranged side sessions for them, which contradicts the complete and meaningful participation of women. It is noteworthy that the third round of the Doha meeting on Afghanistan, initiated by the United Nations and attended by representatives from 22 countries and several international organizations, is being held today, Sunday (June 30), at the "Ritz Carlton" hotel in Doha, Qatar. The meeting will be hosted by Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General. The Taliban delegation, led by the group's spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, arrived at the venue last night. Additionally, Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, and Tomas Niklasson, the EU Special Envoy for Afghanistan, have announced their attendance at the meeting. Meanwhile, women's protest movements have called for global demonstrations, condemning the third Doha meeting. This meeting is being held while women, who constitute half of Afghanistan's society, have been excluded from its agenda.

Zan News: Zubaida Akbar, an Afghan women’s rights and civil society activist, has been awarded the 2024 "International Action Network for Gender Equality and Law" Rights and Leadership Award. Zubaida Akbar, Afghan Women's Rights Activist, Wins International Rights and Leadership Award August 10, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Zubaida Akbar, an Afghan women’s rights and civil society activist, has been awarded the 2024 "International Action Network for Gender Equality and Law" Rights and Leadership Award. The International Action Network for Gender Equality and Law announced this news in a statement on Saturday (August 10). Zubaida Akbar, a prominent activist for women's rights and civil society in Afghanistan, has over a decade of experience working within the country to promote gender equality. Her work focuses on supporting grassroots civil movements, women, human rights defenders, and gender equality, as well as the "arbitrary" policies of the Taliban imposed on Afghan women. Akbar has also led research projects in collaboration with international organizations concerning the status of women in Afghanistan. Shahrzad Akbar, former head of the Afghanistan Human Rights Commission and Zubaida Akbar’s sister, has expressed her happiness over her sister’s achievement. This award is given to an Afghan women's rights activist at a time when the Taliban has deprived Afghan women of their fundamental rights over the past three years. It is worth noting that Zubaida Akbar also spoke in March 2023 at the UN Security Council about the situation of women and ethnic and religious groups in Afghanistan.

Zan News: In response to the shooting of 14 Hazara residents in Daikundi province, the Purple Saturdays Movement condemned ISIS and the Taliban for their common ideological basis in the targeted suppression of Hazaras and Shias in Afghanistan. Purple Saturdays Movement: ISIS and Taliban Target Hazaras with a Common Ideological Basis September 14, 2024 Zan News Zan News: In response to the shooting of 14 Hazara residents in Daikundi province, the Purple Saturdays Movement condemned ISIS and the Taliban for their common ideological basis in the targeted suppression of Hazaras and Shias in Afghanistan. On Saturday (14 September), the movement stated that ISIS and the Taliban, with a “common ideological basis,” deliberately suppress and kill Hazaras in Afghanistan. The statement described the recent attack in Qariodal village, located on the border between Ghor and Daikundi provinces, as part of a long-term policy of suppression, forced displacement, weakening, and destruction of the Hazara and Shia religious and ethnic community in Afghanistan. The Purple Saturdays Movement emphasized that despite apparent differences, the Taliban and ISIS act in unison in their goal of “destroying” the Hazara community. “The Taliban systematically suppress Hazaras and violate their religious and human rights, while ISIS engages in overt violence, killings, and direct targeted attacks to physically, culturally, and religiously eliminate Hazaras.” The movement called on the people of Afghanistan, especially civil society, cultural communities, and intellectuals, to stand united and in solidarity against these “horrific” crimes. They believe that every Afghan citizen has a responsibility to increase pressure on governments and international organizations through protests, awareness campaigns, and civil activities to prevent the recurrence of such “brutal” massacres. The statement urged the international community and organizations such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and human rights organizations to take immediate and practical action to prevent these crimes and support the victims and survivors of the recent attack in Ghor and Daikundi. In conclusion, the Purple Saturdays Movement stressed that the crisis in Afghanistan requires fundamental solutions, and the continuation of the “self-proclaimed” Taliban government will worsen the human rights and security situation. They called on all supporters of the Afghan people to support the formation of a “legitimate, democratic, and decentralized government as an alternative to the self-proclaimed Taliban government.”

Zan News: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan has expressed concern over the continued ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to immediately end this "blatant violation" of the rights of women and girls. Photo: OCHA/Sayed Habib Bidell OCHA: Taliban Must Immediately End Ban on Girls’ Education in Afghanistan February 3, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Afghanistan has expressed concern over the continued ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to immediately end this "blatant violation" of the rights of women and girls. In a message posted on its official X account, OCHA highlighted that the ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade under Taliban rule is now in its third year. The organization emphasized that over the past three years, 1.5 million adolescent girls have been deprived of their right to education beyond the sixth grade. These criticisms and demands come as the new academic year in Afghanistan approaches. However, it remains unclear whether the Taliban government will allow girls to return to schools and universities in the upcoming academic year. It is worth noting that after regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban first banned girls above the sixth grade from attending school and later closed universities to female students. In their latest move, the Taliban have also prohibited girls from studying at medical institutes, effectively denying them access to formal education entirely. These actions by the Taliban have left millions of female students without access to education, jeopardizing their futures. Additionally, women and girls in Afghanistan are barred from entering sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, including UN offices.

Zan News - Takhar: Local sources in Takhar report that the Taliban have arrested at least 17 women bread sellers on charges of "moral corruption." Taliban have Arrested 17 Women Bread Sellers in Takhar Province June 13, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Takhar: Local sources in Takhar report that the Taliban have arrested at least 17 women bread sellers on charges of "moral corruption." According to local sources, the Taliban apprehended these women on Wednesday morning (June 12) from the Chawk-Markazi in Taloqan, the provincial capital of Takhar, and took them to an unknown location. Sources indicate that the Taliban used violence during the arrests, including beating the women. So far, Taliban officials in Takhar have not commented on the arrests. It is said that these women were selling bread on the streets of Taloqan due to economic hardships following the Taliban's return to power, in order to support themselves and their families. This is not the first time women bread sellers in Takhar have faced harassment by the Taliban. In January 2023, the Taliban also publicly beat female bread sellers in the market of Rustaq district, Takhar province.

Zan News: Nasir Ahmad Faiq, the acting Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations, said at a meeting of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly held on Friday night (November 1) that the Taliban have shown no willingness to respond to the legitimate demands of the Afghan people and the international community. Photo: UN Nasir Ahmad Faiq: Taliban Have Shown No Willingness to Respond to the Legitimate Demands of the Afghan People November 2, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Nasir Ahmad Faiq, the acting Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations, said at a meeting of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly held on Friday night (November 1) that the Taliban have shown no willingness to respond to the legitimate demands of the Afghan people and the international community. He emphasized in this meeting that despite repeated calls for the formation of an inclusive and accountable government that represents the will and participation of all segments of society, especially women, the Taliban have imposed a government that prioritizes exclusivity over unity. Faiq also pointed to the disproportionate harms of the Taliban's repressive policies against women and girls, describing these restrictions as a form of gender apartheid. He added that these policies amount to destroying half of Afghanistan's potential and pushing society towards backwardness. He also emphasized that in addition to gender issues, ethnic and religious minorities, including the Hazara community, are facing harassment, discrimination, and targeted attacks. Faiq noted that one of the most worrying issues is the Taliban's revenge against former security forces and government officials and that despite promises of amnesty, reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings of former military personnel continue. The acting Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the UN continued by saying that the Taliban's policies do not reflect the true Islamic values or the traditions of the Afghan people and that these policies deepen the cycle of poverty, dependency, and conflict in Afghanistan. He also supported the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and, in addition to calling for the recognition of gender apartheid, called for the establishment of an independent accountability mechanism for Afghanistan to complement the work of the Special Rapporteur. Faiq welcomed the initiative of Germany, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands to hold the Taliban accountable under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and stated that this initiative, which may be brought to the International Court of Justice, demonstrates a global commitment to holding the Taliban accountable for human rights violations. He emphasized the need for a unified and human rights-based approach by the international community, saying: "We call for a principled stance in interactions that makes measurable progress in the field of human rights a prerequisite for any dialogue with the Taliban. This approach will strengthen accountability and place human rights at the center of diplomatic efforts." In conclusion, Faiq referred to the dark reality facing the Afghan people today, which is rapidly threatening their freedom, dignity, and security, and emphasized that the international community cannot remain indifferent to this situation.

Karima, a woman who lives in Kabul with her three daughters, is an example of the many female household heads in Afghanistan who face numerous challenges in providing for their families and caring for their children amidst the country's current economic and social hardships. Girls in Boys' Clothes; The Lives of Women Breadwinners in Afghanistan May 15, 2024 Maryam Naiby Karima, a woman who lives in Kabul with her three daughters, is an example of the many female household heads in Afghanistan who face numerous challenges in providing for their families and caring for their children amidst the country's current economic and social hardships. Fifteen years ago, Karima lost her husband in a car accident and has since been solely responsible for raising her three daughters. Due to various health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems, Karima is unable to work. The only source of income for the family is the 14-year-old daughter, who sells vegetables on the streets dressed as a boy. Karima says, "I am sick myself. I have diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Because of this, I cannot work. Only one daughter of mine works, who is 14 years old. My daughter dresses as a boy and works so that she appears to be a boy, because if it is known that she is a girl, she cannot work and will face problems." Speaking about the challenges her 14-year-old daughter faced working outside the home, she said, "My daughter used to face a lot of problems when she worked outside the home. She had long hair and wore a headscarf, which caused her problems at work. People who knew she was a girl, they say all kinds of things to her. Finally, I had to cut her hair short and put her in boy's clothes." Karima's daughter also faces harassment and work stoppage by the Taliban while working. Karimeh says, "The Taliban create problems, sometimes they let my daughter's cart work and sometimes they don't." The Karima family is struggling with extreme poverty. They are barely able to afford basic living expenses such as food, shelter, and medicine. Karima says she has not been able to pay rent for three months and they often go through meals without food. Karima speaks about the hardships of meeting basic needs: "We are unable to meet our basic needs. We are struggling to get by, and our days and nights are spent in hardship. Even if we have food one time, we won't have food for two other times." She has also faced gender discrimination due to being a woman. Her brother-in-law threw her out of her husband's house and deprived her of her inheritance. Karima says, "When my husband died, my brother-in-law threw me out of the house and did not give me my rights because I was a woman and I could not defend myself." Karima has so far received little help from humanitarian organizations. She says that aid often goes to people close to the "representative of area" and not to needy families like hers. Karima says about the challenges of female-headed households in Afghanistan that "the situation in Afghanistan is very bad. It is very difficult for a woman to earn a living for her family and household and to be the head of the household." Karima's wish for the future is to have a peaceful and secure life for herself and her daughters. She hopes that her daughters will be able to go to school, get an education and have a good job. Karima also calls for equal rights for women and equal opportunities for education, work and participation in society. She calls on the Taliban to allow women to be educated and employed.

Zan News: The "Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile" states that three years into Taliban rule, the situation in Afghanistan is worsening day by day, making the country unsafe for journalists, human rights defenders, civil activists, and security forces. Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile: Afghanistan is Not Safe for Journalists and Human Rights Defenders July 21, 2024 Zan TV Zan News: The "Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile" states that three years into Taliban rule, the situation in Afghanistan is worsening day by day, making the country unsafe for journalists, human rights defenders, civil activists, and security forces. On Saturday (July 20), this federation, in an gathering, called for an end to the forced deportation of journalists, human rights defenders, security forces, and at-risk individuals from Iran. Members of this federation stated: "After the Taliban's return to power and the imposition of numerous restrictions, along with the fear of being pursued, arrested, and tortured, hundreds of journalists, human rights defenders, and at-risk individuals fled Afghanistan, seeking refuge in Iran with hopes of eventually reaching immigrant-friendly countries." The statement from the "Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile" noted that with the intensified forced deportation of millions of Afghan migrants, including at-risk individuals in Iran, these people are now in a very difficult situation. This comes as the International Organization for Migration reported last Thursday that from April to June of this year, 858,170 people have returned to Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan, while 532,854 people have migrated to these countries. According to the report, 56% of these Afghans returned from Iran involuntarily, 46% voluntarily, and 39% due to economic difficulties.

Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Ghor province have reported that a gas cylinder explosion in a residential house injured four women and one man from the same family. Social Media Gas Cylinder Explosion in Ghor Injures Five Family Members December 16, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Ghor province have reported that a gas cylinder explosion in a residential house injured four women and one man from the same family. According to a statement from the press office of the Taliban's police command in Ghor, the incident occurred on Sunday (December 15) in the village of Alandar, located on the outskirts of Firozkoh, the provincial capital. The statement noted that the injured were transported to the hospital with the assistance of the third security district in Firozkoh. Local Taliban authorities stated that the primary cause of the explosion was negligence in properly storing the liquefied gas cylinder. It is worth mentioning that Ghor province faces significant challenges during the winter due to its mountainous terrain and extreme cold. Most families use gas cylinders to heat their homes, but this method sometimes poses serious risks, including explosions and gas poisoning.