Zan News: Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, has called for support for human rights activists in Afghanistan on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. Photo: flickr Richard Bennett Calls for Support for Human Rights Activists in Afghanistan December 10, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, has called for support for human rights activists in Afghanistan on the occasion of International Human Rights Day. On Tuesday (December 10), Mr. Bennett wrote in a message on X, praising the resistance and courage of those currently in Afghanistan advocating for their rights. He added that the citizens of Afghanistan are facing gender-based harassment, restrictions on civil space, torture and ill-treatment, marginalization of ethnic minorities, and a humanitarian crisis. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights emphasized, "Let's all stand by them!" These remarks come at a time when, after regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have widely violated the human rights of the country's citizens.

Zan News - Herat: As the ban on taking photos and filming living beings continues in various provinces across the country, agents of the Taliban's Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice on Wednesday (20 November) in Herat prevented journalists from filming a mass wedding ceremony for 120 young couples. Photo: avadailynews Ban on Photographing Living Beings; Journalists in Herat: We May Lose Our Jobs November 21, 2024 Ariahn Raya Zan News - Herat: As the ban on taking photos and filming living beings continues in various provinces across the country, agents of the Taliban's Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice on Wednesday (20 November) in Herat prevented journalists from filming a mass wedding ceremony for 120 young couples. Several agents of the Department for the Promotion of Virtue, wearing white cloaks, entered the hall during the event and warned all visual media journalists not to take any photos or videos. Meanwhile, some journalists from visual media expressed concern over this action by the Taliban, saying that the ban on filming living beings might cause them to lose their jobs. Hashim, a pseudonym for one of the journalists in Herat who has been working as a visual reporter for over five years, stated that due to the ban on filming living beings, he may be forced to take up manual labor. "Just look at today, these officials are not allowing us to take pictures. Maybe in a month, no one will be allowed to carry cameras, and personally, since I have 10 dependents at home, I will have to go to Iran or Pakistan for labor work." Another journalist from a local media outlet in Herat, also using a pseudonym, complained about the actions of the Taliban's Department for the Promotion of Virtue and called for the removal of these restrictions. "If you look at these people, they have hundreds of photos of themselves and their children on their phones. But when it comes to media, they say we don't have permission to take pictures or videos. Well, what does television mean without images? How can we prove an event has taken place? The government must make a decision on this and allow us to work without restrictions." The authorities of the Taliban's Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Herat have banned filming and photographing living beings, while in most other provinces, the activities of the national television, under Taliban control, have also been suspended due to the prohibition of filming living beings.

Opportunities for Afghan journalists to work in Pakistan are almost nonexistent. Google Image What Challenges Do Afghan Female Journalists Face in Pakistan? January 23, 2025 Khalida Niaz Opportunities for Afghan journalists to work in Pakistan are almost nonexistent. "Reaching Pakistan through Torkham was a very difficult journey, during which there were many challenges in life. I had kept my identity hidden so that no one would recognize me," said Muzdalifa Kakar, an Afghan female journalist. Muzdalifa Kakar explains that she arrived in Pakistan on December 7, 2022, after a challenging journey. Female journalist Muzdalifa Kakar says that after the Taliban's takeover, life became very difficult for women in Afghanistan, including herself, who worked with media or international non-governmental organizations. Muzdalifa mentions that she had a visa, but still, reaching Pakistan was very hard. Apart from the difficulties on the way, she also faced numerous challenges upon arriving in Pakistan. "We journalists found ourselves in a strange dilemma, where we couldn't go back to Afghanistan, nor could we live peacefully here." Muzdalifa says that in addition to security problems, she also faced economic challenges. There are almost no job opportunities for Afghan journalists in Pakistan, which has led them to struggle with economic issues. Life becomes very difficult in exile, especially when there is no work. After the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, the doors to education for girls were closed in Afghanistan, and they were also not allowed to work. The Taliban also shut the doors of media for women, telling them not to appear on television screens. Meanwhile, some female journalists began receiving direct threats, causing many to leave both their country and their jobs. Many of these women turned to Pakistan, some of whom have gone to foreign countries, while others are still residing here. Muzdalifa Kakar lives in Islamabad and hopes to move to a country where she can be granted all basic human rights. She says that whenever the Pakistani government sets a time for Afghan refugees to leave, they become fearful, wondering where they will go if expelled from Pakistan, as their lives are at risk in Afghanistan. She stated that their problems have not diminished. Currently, a major issue for Afghan female journalists is the extremely slow process of obtaining visas for traveling abroad. As a result, they are under psychological pressure, with much time passing while many journalists wait for their visa process to be completed so they can move to a safe country. According to Afghan journalists, there are about 500 Afghan journalists residing in Pakistan, but there is no information about how many of them are female journalists. Most of these journalists live in Peshawar and Islamabad. Mina Akbari is also one of the Afghan female journalists. Like Muzdalifa Kakar, Mina Akbari moved to Pakistan after the Taliban's takeover. She lived for some time in Peshawar but later started living in Islamabad. Mina Akbari also hopes to move to a country where she can live peacefully. She is waiting for her visa to be processed so she can leave from here. There Are Almost No Job Opportunities for Afghan Journalists in Pakistan While discussing the challenges faced by Afghan refugees, especially Afghan female journalists, in Pakistan, Mina Akbari stated that Afghan journalists face difficulties in their own country, but when they migrate to another country, their problems are doubled. Mina Akbari stated that she has been living in Pakistan for nearly three years and is facing many challenges here. Among the Afghan journalists who have arrived, they all face difficulties in finding work. Some journalists work online, but many are unemployed. Mina Akbari mentioned that there are almost no job opportunities for Afghan journalists in Pakistani media. She also said that in Pakistan, Afghans not only face difficulties in securing jobs, but if any Afghan wants to start a business, they are unable to do so because doing business here becomes very expensive. Mina Akbari added that the biggest issue Afghan journalists face right now is the inability to obtain visas. In Islamabad, they are waiting for their visas to be processed so they can begin their journey. When and How Did the Arrival of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Begin? The arrival of Afghan refugees in Pakistan began in 1979 after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), by 1981, their number had reached 2 million, and by 1990, it had increased to 3.2 million. After the Soviet Union's withdrawal, during the 1990s Afghan civil war, refugees continued to arrive in Pakistan. After the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the total number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan exceeded 5 million. After the fall of the Taliban’s first government in 2002, around 1.5 million Afghans returned, and by 2012, the number had decreased to 2.7 million. Over the next decade, more Afghans gradually returned to their country. In 2021, after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, about 700,000 Afghans once again sought refuge in Pakistan. According to the 2023 census, the number of Afghans residing in Islamabad is 192,353, with 939,878 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 310,832 in Punjab, and 145,875 in Sindh. Additionally, 474,812 are living in Balochistan and 52,056 in the Islamabad. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the total number of undocumented Afghans in Pakistan is 4,229,000, with 52.6% residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 24.1% in Balochistan, 14.3% in Punjab, 5.5% in Sindh, 3.1% in Islamabad, and 0.3% in Azad Kashmir. Are Afghan Journalists Unable to Find Rental Homes? In Peshawar, Miska Safi, affiliated with an international organization, says that journalists who migrated from Afghanistan to Pakistan are facing many difficulties here. These journalists were active in Afghanistan, but once someone migrates, their status is that of a refugee, and this problem also exists for Afghan journalists. "Here, Afghan journalists are neither receiving the salaries nor the jobs they used to have. They are facing security issues, the police come and detain them, they cannot find rental homes, and there are health issues as well." Miska Safi has reported extensively on the challenges faced by Afghan journalists. She states that Afghan journalists cannot continue their work online either due to security concerns, and their freedom to work has been taken away. According to the data from the media rights organization Freedom Network, nearly 250 Afghan journalists have migrated to Pakistan, many of whom have since moved to the U.S. and Europe, while some are still waiting for their visas. Gohar Ali Khan, Coordinator for Freedom Network and a senior journalist in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stated that the major issue faced by Afghan journalists was the expiration of their visas in Pakistan. Their visas had expired, and there was a fear that they would be deported from Pakistan, but due to efforts from Freedom Network, they were granted permission to stay.

Zan News: Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General, described the talks with the Taliban at the end of the third Doha meeting as "frank" and "useful." End of the Third Doha Meeting: DiCarlo Describes Talks with the Taliban as "Frank and Useful" July 2, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General, described the talks with the Taliban at the end of the third Doha meeting as "frank" and "useful." On the evening of Monday (July 1), Ms. DiCarlo stated at a press conference that this was the first time the international community and the Taliban had the opportunity to engage in detailed discussions. She mentioned that the discussions at this meeting were based on priorities established in the "Independent Assessment of Afghanistan," which was approved by the UN Security Council in November last year. The UN Under-Secretary-General emphasized, "We are following a process step by step with a clear understanding of the outcomes and commitments of all parties, and we are still at the beginning of this process." Rosemary DiCarlo expressed hope that the engagement with the Taliban would continue and that the outcomes of this meeting would contribute to building an open society in Afghanistan. According to Ms. DiCarlo, on the first day of the Doha meeting, special representatives of various countries and the Taliban delegation presented their expectations. On the second day, they discussed the private sector and the fight against drugs. The UN Under-Secretary-General mentioned that special representatives and she herself raised serious concerns about the Taliban's restrictions on Afghan women and girls. She emphasized, "Afghanistan cannot fully return to the international community economically and socially if it excludes half of its population from participation." DiCarlo pointed out that the representatives of the participating countries made the removal of the ban on education and schooling for girls their top demand with the Taliban and expressed hope that these demands would be addressed promptly. She stated that the ban on education, schooling, and work for girls and women is equivalent to "delaying Afghanistan's development." The UN political deputy emphasized that Afghanistan cannot grow economically without the presence of women. Since the Taliban's return to power, they have deprived women and girls of their basic rights, including the right to work and education. On the first day of the third Doha meeting, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid referred to women's rights in Afghanistan as internal matters of the group. Ms. DiCarlo added that in this meeting, the special representatives also discussed the need for inclusive governance in Afghanistan and respect for the rights of minorities with the Taliban. She stated, "There was broad agreement among the special representatives of the countries on continuing the Doha process, and the United Nations is committed to facilitating this process." This UN official also clarified, "The Doha meeting process regarding Afghanistan under Taliban rule will continue." In her press conference, the UN Deputy Secretary-General acknowledged and understood the widespread criticism of holding the third Doha meeting with the Taliban and excluding representatives of Afghan women and civil society. She added, "For the United Nations, the meaningful participation of women in political and peace processes is a guiding principle." Despite the absence of Afghan women and civil society at the two-day talks with the Taliban, "their voices were heard by the Taliban." She said, "We faced a difficult and perhaps impossible choice to hold the third Doha meeting. We have a mission to support this process, and we believe that bringing the de facto authorities (Taliban) and special representatives together for direct dialogue is the right approach." Ms. DiCarlo added, "Unfortunately, the Taliban do not sit at the same table with Afghan civil society in this format, but they clearly heard the need for women's and civil society's participation in all areas of life." The UN Deputy Secretary-General also addressed another criticism that the UN was accused of "normalizing" and "recognizing" the Taliban. She said that this meeting and engagements do not mean "normalizing" or "recognizing" the Taliban and expressed hope that the recent talks would help solve some of Afghanistan's problems. In the press conference, she mentioned that she would have a meeting with some Afghan women and civil society members in Doha on Tuesday (July 2) and emphasized that some women and men from Kabul had been invited to Doha for this meeting, but she did not provide further details. Ms. DiCarlo also respected the decision of those who boycotted the meeting. Previously, Afghan women's and human rights activists Habiba Sarabi, Nabila Saleh, and Zubaida Akbar announced they were invited to a "side meeting" with the UN Deputy Secretary-General but would not participate. They emphasized that women should be present at the main UN meetings, not just side events. Meanwhile, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, described the Taliban's participation in the third round of the Doha meeting as a "significant opportunity" for meaningful dialogue. These statements were made as the two-day Doha meeting concluded last night, discussing topics of interest to the Taliban, while human rights, inclusive governance, and concerns about terrorism were not on the agenda. The UN held the third Doha meeting amid heavy criticism for the Taliban's presence and the exclusion of Afghan women and civil society representatives.

Zan News - Herat: According to sources in Herat, a man in the province has shot and killed his two wives. ​ A Man in Herat Murdered his Two Wives May 26, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Herat: According to sources in Herat, a man in the province has shot and killed his two wives. The incident occurred on Friday (May 24) in the center of Karukh district, Herat province. Health sources in Herat confirm that the bodies of the two women have been transferred to the Herat Hawzawi Hospital. According to sources, the man killed his wives after a family argument and verbal tension. So far, Taliban officials in Herat have not commented on the matter. Such incidents are not uncommon in Afghanistan. In October of last year, a man in the Haji Qurbanha area of Qadis district, Badghis province, also killed his two wives with a hunting rifle.

Zan News: The Afghanistan Powerful Women’s Movement has issued a resolution protesting the third Doha meeting and the global community's dealings with the Taliban. Afghanistan Powerful Women’s Movement Protests to Third Doha Meeting and Global Deal with the Taliban June 24, 2024 Maryam Naiby Zan News: The Afghanistan Powerful Women’s Movement has issued a resolution protesting the third Doha meeting and the global community's dealings with the Taliban. In this resolution, published today, Monday (June 24), the movement's members emphasize that inviting the Taliban disregards the will of the Afghan people. They describe the Taliban as "terrorists and criminals lacking any legal legitimacy, who have seized political power through military violence over the past three decades through terror and intimidation." The members of the movement stated in the resolution: "As a result of the Taliban’s crimes, nearly 200,000 people in Afghanistan have been killed, and millions have been displaced and had their lives affected." They stress that the Taliban is a "terrorist, ideological, and fundamentalist group" that has no connection to the social fabric or civil society demands of Afghanistan. According to the movement, any form of understanding with the Taliban under the guise of negotiation is clear engagement with "war criminals, perpetrators of crimes against humanity, agents of gender apartheid, and sworn enemies of the Afghan people and human values such as justice, dignity, and freedom." They consider it a betrayal of human values and human rights. The Afghanistan Powerful Women’s Movement calls on the United Nations and the countries participating in the Doha meeting to redirect their dialogue from the Taliban to the Afghan people. They emphasize that the Taliban have no legitimacy and that the only way to combat insecurity in Afghanistan and the world is to destroy the Taliban and grant political power to the Afghan people. The resolution also outlines specific demands, including criminalizing gender apartheid and recognizing it in Afghanistan, pursuing war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Taliban, preventing the Taliban's brutal repression, imposing international sanctions against the group, cutting off the Taliban's access to global humanitarian aid, returning Afghanistan’s UN representation to the Afghan people, and creating mechanisms for dialogue with the Afghan people about forming a transitional government and establishing a transitional justice process. In conclusion, the Afghanistan Powerful Women’s Movement emphasizes that any negotiation that does not consider these fundamental demands of the Afghan people is an overt deal with terrorism.

Zan News: The Tehran Department of Education has announced in a new notice that migrant students holding census papers or return-to-Afghanistan documents are not permitted to enroll in schools for the 1404 academic year. Photo: Soosan Momeni/NRC Iran; Afghan Students with Census Documents Barred from School Enrollment April 20, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The Tehran Department of Education has announced in a new notice that migrant students holding census papers or return-to-Afghanistan documents are not permitted to enroll in schools for the 1404 academic year. According to the directive issued by the Education Department of Tehran's counties, all schools have been instructed to refrain from enrolling migrant students with census or exit documents. School principals have also been told not to refer the families of these students to the central education office for follow-up. This decision effectively excludes children with these types of documents from accessing formal education in Iran’s school system. It is worth noting that according to existing statistics, around two million Afghan migrants in Iran hold census papers. Previously, Nader YarAhmadi, head of Iran’s Center for Migrant Affairs, stated that over 610,000 migrant students are currently enrolled in Iranian schools. However, it is unclear how many of them will be affected by this new ban. This decision comes at a time when many Afghan families, especially after the closure of girls’ schools in Afghanistan by the Taliban, migrated to Iran in hopes of continuing their children's education. Now, with this new restriction, the educational future of thousands of Afghan migrant children in Iran remains uncertain.

Zan News: Local sources in Nangarhar province have reported that a six-year-old child was killed by unknown individuals in Jalalabad, the capital of the province. Photo: Ewaz Akbari A Child Killed by Unknown Individuals in Jalalabad October 24, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Nangarhar province have reported that a six-year-old child was killed by unknown individuals in Jalalabad, the capital of the province. According to the sources, this incident occurred yesterday, Wednesday (October 23), in the 8th district of Jalalabad city. Sources have stated that the father of the child is a farmer. Nothing has been said about the motive behind this murder. Taliban officials in Nangarhar have not yet commented on the incident. It is worth noting that criminal activities have increased under Taliban rule, particularly in Nangarhar province. Last month, a young boy was also stabbed to death by unknown individuals in the center of this province.

Zan News - Farah: A man has been arrested in Farah Province on charges of sexual assault and the murder of two children. Social Media A Man Arrested in Farah on Charges of Sexual Assault and Murder of Two Children August 11, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Farah: A man has been arrested in Farah Province on charges of sexual assault and the murder of two children. The press office of the Taliban's police command in Farah reported that this man was arrested on Saturday (August 10) in the center of Farah Province. According to the press release, the individual killed a child boy after sexually assaulting him about a month ago and murdered another child approximately 10 months ago in exchange for 4,000 Afghanis. The press release states: "The man had buried the children’s bodies in a ruin." The Taliban police command in Farah has confirmed that the murderer has confessed to his crimes and the bodies of the children have been discovered. The exact motive behind these murders has not yet been determined.

Zan News: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported a significant spread of anemia among Afghan women and girls in its latest report. The organization announced that more than 40 percent of women in Afghanistan suffer from anemia. Image by: LYNZY BILLING UNICEF: Over 40 Percent of Women in Afghanistan Suffer from Anemia July 30, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported a significant spread of anemia among Afghan women and girls in its latest report. The organization announced that more than 40 percent of women in Afghanistan suffer from anemia. UNICEF, in a video report published on its X (formerly Twitter) account, stated that it is providing vitamin and mineral supplements to pregnant women across Afghanistan. The primary cause of this issue is attributed to iron and micronutrient deficiencies in women's diets. Zahra Mousavi, a UNICEF employee in Bamyan province, highlighted the challenging economic conditions faced by Afghan families, stating that poverty and unemployment have severely affected women and children. These statistics come amidst reports from aid organizations indicating that approximately 23.7 million people in Afghanistan, 80 percent of whom are women, are grappling with poverty and in need of humanitarian assistance. Meanwhile, the announcement of the cessation of operations at six health centers supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Badakhshan province has heightened concerns about the health situation of Afghan women and children. These centers, which provided crucial health services, especially for pregnant women and newborns, are set to close by the end of this month.