Zan News: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided employment for over 400 female farmers in Afghanistan through a project to replace opium poppy cultivation. UN Provided Employment Opportunities for Over 400 Female Farmers July 8, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided employment for over 400 female farmers in Afghanistan through a project to replace opium poppy cultivation. In a report, the agency said that with a $90 million budget provided by the International Narcotics Control Board and United States, it is supporting thousands of former poppy farmers who have successfully switched crops through a community-based agriculture project. The report said that part of the project also focuses on empowering female farmers in the opium poppy replacement sector. UNDP mentioned a woman under the pseudonym Aisha who has established a women-led tomato processing unit in Mazar-e Sharif with the support of the agency. According to the report, in addition to empowering female farmers, UNDP has also supported women's businesses in other sectors that create job and leadership opportunities for women. The agency said it has supported over 100 agricultural businesses in Afghanistan and has also facilitated trade missions that have resulted in significant international sales of Afghan products, particularly dried fruits and nuts. It is worth noting that despite the Taliban's ban on women and girls working in various sectors, private businesses are among the sectors where women have the right to work. It should also be noted that the ban on women working has had a severe impact on Afghanistan's economy. According to UN statistics, the ban on women working costs Afghanistan's economy about $1 billion annually. The UN is issuing this warning as Afghanistan is experiencing one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the world, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Zan News - Kunduz: A man in Kunduz province has slit the throats of his two young children with a knife and injured his wife. A Man in Kunduz Slit Throats of His Two Children with a Knife August 28, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Kunduz: A man in Kunduz province has slit the throats of his two young children with a knife and injured his wife. Local sources in Kunduz say that this incident occurred on Sunday of this week (August 25th) in the Gul Bagh village of the Chahar Dara district of this province. Sources added that the beheaded children were a 9-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl. Local Taliban officials in Chahar Dara, Kunduz, have also released a picture of the man and announced that he has been arrested on charges of killing his children. The man's wife has been transferred to the hospital. The motive for this incident is still unknown. This incident comes after a woman was beheaded by her husband in the "Ghulam Farooq" village of the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province yesterday. It is worth mentioning that in recent weeks, criminal incidents have increased unprecedentedly in various parts of the country.

Zan News: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has expressed support for the right to education and employment for Afghan women at a meeting in Austria, calling on the international community to take concrete steps to address this issue. Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE): The World Must Take Practical Steps to Uphold the Rights of Afghan Women June 5, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has expressed support for the right to education and employment for Afghan women at a meeting in Austria, calling on the international community to take concrete steps to address this issue. In a meeting titled "Women's Rights in Afghanistan: A Regional Problem with Global Impact," the organization emphasized that the challenges faced by Afghan women have far-reaching consequences for regional stability and security. The OSCE meeting, held at the organization's headquarters in Vienna, Austria, brought together representatives and experts from various countries to focus on the challenges faced by Afghan women. North Macedonia, as the OSCE's current Chair, hosted the meeting. The meeting stressed practical solutions for empowering Afghan women and reducing their challenges. The OSCE issued a statement stating that it supports the rights of Afghan women, especially their right to education and employment, and calls for sustained international support and cooperation in this area. Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan's ambassador to Austria, also attended the meeting and spoke about the situation of women and girls under Taliban rule. Ms. Bakhtari wrote in her X account that the situation in Afghanistan has undeniable consequences for the world. She emphasized that this situation poses increasing security threats to the region, the OSCE and beyond. The Afghan ambassador to Austria stressed the importance of supporting the empowerment of women in Afghanistan, saying that supporting Afghan women is a direct contribution to the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime. It is worth noting that for nearly three years, the Taliban has violated all fundamental women's rights by banning Afghan women from education and employment. Despite its emphasis on upholding women's rights, the world has so far failed to persuade the Taliban to abandon its misogynistic stance. The OSCE has stated that the challenges faced by Afghan women, including education, healthcare and employment, will have far-reaching consequences for regional security.

Zan News: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that six athletes from Afghanistan, comprising three women and three men, will participate in various sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Six Athletes, Including Three Women, from Afghanistan will Participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics June 15, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that six athletes from Afghanistan, comprising three women and three men, will participate in various sports at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Mark Adams, the IOC spokesperson, announced this news during a press conference, stating that male Afghan athletes will compete in track, swimming, and judo, while female athletes will compete in track and cycling. Adams emphasized that the gender-balanced team sends a message to the Taliban government, which has restricted women's and girls' access to sports in Afghanistan. He stated, "We have made it clear that we want a gender-equal team, and that is what we have achieved." He also added that no Taliban officials will be allowed to attend the Paris 2024 Olympics, saying, "There will be no place for Taliban officials in Paris. No representative from the Afghan government will be accredited for the 2024 Olympic Games." Earlier, the IOC had announced that it was negotiating with the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee and sports officials to lift the current restrictions on women's and girls' access to sports in the country. The Paris 2024 Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8 in Paris, France. This comes as sports in Afghanistan have not been spared from the Taliban's strict measures, with all women's sports facing severe restrictions.

Zan News: A number of Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan, who are awaiting resettlement in the United States, have sent a letter to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting an immediate halt to their arrest and forced deportation from the country. Photo: Rahmat Gul/AP Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Urge Shehbaz Sharif to Halt Forced Deportations March 24, 2025 Zan News Zan News: A number of Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan, who are awaiting resettlement in the United States, have sent a letter to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting an immediate halt to their arrest and forced deportation from the country. According to Dawn newspaper, the signatories of the letter have urged the Pakistani Prime Minister to immediately stop the deportation of refugees whose asylum applications are under review by the United States, have been approved, or have been accepted into the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). These refugees emphasized that Pakistan’s decision to deport Afghan migrants will have a negative impact on applicants for the U.S. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), individuals referred to the USRAP, and those seeking humanitarian parole. They further stated that these individuals are in the legal process of immigrating to the U.S., and their cases are currently under review or have been approved. According to them, many Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan are undergoing rigorous security and administrative screenings to obtain visas or refugee status in the U.S. Deporting them back to Afghanistan would be a violation of humanitarian principles and Pakistan’s international obligations. The letter’s signatories have also called on the Pakistani government to facilitate the visa extension process for Afghan migrants, as they are currently facing multiple challenges, including high costs. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has given all Afghan migrants until March 31 to leave the cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Under this decision, undocumented migrants and holders of Afghan Citizen Cards must leave the country. However, holders of Proof of Registration (POR) documents issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are permitted to remain in Pakistan until June 30.

Zan News: Following the increase in the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran, the Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile has called for an end to this process. The Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile Calls for an End to Forced Deportation of Afghan Refugees from Iran September 22, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Following the increase in the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran, the Federation of Afghan Journalists in Exile has called for an end to this process. Members of this federation emphasized in a protest gathering on Saturday (21 September) that the deportation of journalists, human rights defenders, former government security forces, and individuals at risk must be stopped. In this gathering, federation members requested international organizations supporting journalists to urgently address their cases. They also stated that the Iranian government is forcibly deporting those who have sought refuge in the country, contrary to accepted international standards. They added that they are living in severe fear and anxiety and noted: “Before our lives turn into a tragic disaster, please address our requests.” Meanwhile, the Iranian government has recently increased the deportation of Afghan refugees, and according to the Taliban’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, an average of about two thousand Afghan refugees are forcibly deported from Iran and Pakistan daily.

Zan News: The "Purple Saturdays" movement, through a public statement, has called on all international organizations to take immediate action to rescue "Qadriya," a woman imprisoned by the Taliban in Baghlan, who recently released an audio recording stating that the Taliban intends to return her to her father’s home, where she could be killed by him. Sent to Zan TV The Purple Saturdays Movement Calls for Immediate Rescue of "Qadriya" April 7, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The "Purple Saturdays" movement, through a public statement, has called on all international organizations to take immediate action to rescue "Qadriya," a woman imprisoned by the Taliban in Baghlan, who recently released an audio recording stating that the Taliban intends to return her to her father’s home, where she could be killed by him. In the statement, released by the movement on Monday (April 7), it is highlighted that by handing Qadriya over to her father, the Taliban has deliberately put her at serious risk of stoning and violent death. The statement emphasizes: "Qadriya is not a criminal; she is a victim of unjust violence." The Purple Saturdays movement strongly condemns the Taliban's actions and urges Amnesty International, the UNAMA office, and the UN Human Rights Council to intervene by ensuring Qadriya's safe passage to a secure country. The movement also calls on all human rights organizations, governments committed to human rights, social activists, and the awakened consciences of the world to take urgent action to support and rescue Qadriya. The statement further reads: "Qadriya is neither a criminal nor a threat; she is a woman who has been a victim of violence and gradual abuse and deserves protection, refuge, and a life of safety."

Zan News - Nimroz: Two children have died in a fire at a grocery store in Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province. Two Children Die in a Fire in Nimroz July 6, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Nimroz: Two children have died in a fire at a grocery store in Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province. The fire broke out on Friday morning (July 5) in the first district of Zaranj city. It is reported that the store, in addition to selling food, also sold fuel. As a result of the fire, two children lost their lives and a man was injured. Local sources attribute the cause of the fire to the hot weather and the explosion of a petrol-filled bottle. The Taliban in Nimroz have also confirmed the occurrence of this fire.

Zan News - Badakhshan: Local sources in Badakhshan have reported that the Taliban have prohibited the simultaneous visits of male and female patients to the Badakhshan provincial hospital. Photo: Pajhwok Taliban Bans Simultaneous Visits of Women and Men to Hospital in Badakhshan October 15, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Badakhshan: Local sources in Badakhshan have reported that the Taliban have prohibited the simultaneous visits of male and female patients to the Badakhshan provincial hospital. According to sources, the Taliban’s Public Health Directorate in Badakhshan made this decision following pressure from the Propagation of Virtue agents in the province. Sources stated that under this decision, male and female patients will now visit the hospital at separate times, although emergency patients will be exempt from this rule. Meanwhile, residents of Badakhshan have reacted to this decision, stating that it makes access to healthcare services more difficult for patients. This decision comes at a time when the Taliban have issued numerous restrictive and gender-discriminatory orders since their return to power in Afghanistan.

Zan News: The British Embassy has called the ban on girls' education in Afghanistan a "disaster" and has urged the Taliban to lift this restriction. Photo: ABC News British Embassy: Ban on Girls' Education in Afghanistan is a Disaster March 23, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The British Embassy has called the ban on girls' education in Afghanistan a "disaster" and has urged the Taliban to lift this restriction. The embassy wrote on X on Sunday (23 March) that with the start of the new academic year in Afghanistan, 400,000 more girls have been deprived of education, bringing the total number of girls deprived of education to 2.2 million. The British Embassy stated: "This is a disaster for the girls and their country. Education is a right, not a privilege. We call on the Taliban to lift this ban." It is worth noting that after taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed extensive restrictions on women, banning the education of girls above the sixth grade. With the beginning of the new academic year, secondary schools and high schools have remained closed to girls for the fourth consecutive year.