Zan News: The United Nations has recently released a new survey on the impact of the Taliban's ban on women working in Afghanistan across 127 NGOs and UN agencies in 34 provinces. The findings show that 18% of female employees in international organizations now work from home, a 6% decrease from previous reports in September. UN Survey: 18% of Female Employees in International Organizations Work from Home June 16, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The United Nations has recently released a new survey on the impact of the Taliban's ban on women working in Afghanistan across 127 NGOs and UN agencies in 34 provinces. The findings show that 18% of female employees in international organizations now work from home, a 6% decrease from previous reports in September. Conducted by the Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group and the Humanitarian Access Working Group, the survey presents the results of the seventh round of polls aimed at assessing operational trends following the order banning women from working in international organizations. The report shows that 45% of respondents said they work with both women and men to some extent, while 27% work entirely with both women and men. The report also highlights the challenges women face in accessing work and assistance, emphasizing that this is influenced by multiple barriers imposed by various Taliban ministries. According to the survey, 60% of respondents said they face difficulties in registering new projects with awareness-raising components, which are of particular importance for reaching women and girls. Half of the responding organizations also face challenges in registering projects related to female employees. The Gender in Humanitarian Action Working Group and the Humanitarian Access Working Group stated in the report that the "dress code" for women imposed by the Taliban has also affected the work process of various organizations in Afghanistan. 60% of organizations reported that female staff censor their movements due to fear of arrest. These various barriers imposed by the Taliban have affected the meaningful participation of women, both as employees and as recipients of assistance. In addition, 66% of respondents stated that working from home has affected the ability of their female employees to interact with other team members more than ever before. The survey comes as the Taliban banned women from working in international organizations on December 24, 2022. Previously, various international organizations had warned that the ban on women working in these organizations had affected the delivery of aid, especially for women and girls.

Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Badakhshan say that a woman was killed by her son with knife blows in this province. Photo: Taliban security command in Badakhshan A Woman Killed by Her Son in Badakhshan January 7, 2025 Abdullah Naseri Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Badakhshan say that a woman was killed by her son with knife blows in this province. Ehsanullah Kamgar, spokesperson for the Taliban's provincial police command in Badakhshan, said the incident occurred around 5:00 PM on Monday (6 January) in the Momenabad village of the Kishim district in the province. He added that the son who killed his mother was arrested by Taliban fighters. However, he did not provide any information about the identity of the young man or the motive behind the killing. It is worth mentioning that after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, criminal incidents and domestic violence, due to economic problems, have significantly increased in various parts of the country.

Zan News - Balkh: The Taliban Supreme Court has announced that a woman in Balkh province was publicly flogged 35 times on charges of "adultery." A Woman Publicly Flogged by the Taliban in Balkh July 8, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Balkh: The Taliban Supreme Court has announced that a woman in Balkh province was publicly flogged 35 times on charges of "adultery." In a statement, the court said that the woman was flogged on Sunday, July 7, according to the verdict of the Balkh provincial appellate court. According to the statement, the flogging was carried out in the presence of officials from various Taliban departments and "a large number of people." It is noteworthy that since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have repeatedly publicly flogged individuals accused of various offenses and have executed five individuals in front of hundreds of spectators. Human rights organizations consider corporal punishment and execution of accused individuals to be against human dignity and international laws and have called for an end to these actions by the Taliban.

Zan News: Amid Pakistan’s ongoing actions to forcibly deport Afghan refugees, the "Women’s Movement Towards Freedom" has condemned the move in a statement, calling for immediate international support to protect Afghan refugees. Social Media Women’s Movement Towards Freedom Calls for International Support to Afghan Refugees in Pakistan January 11, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Amid Pakistan’s ongoing actions to forcibly deport Afghan refugees, the "Women’s Movement Towards Freedom" has condemned the move in a statement, calling for immediate international support to protect Afghan refugees. On Friday (January 10), the movement issued a statement describing Pakistan’s decision as "unjust" and a "blatant violation of human rights." It stressed that this policy endangers the lives of thousands of women, men, and children, particularly human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, and vulnerable minorities. The statement highlighted that Afghan women who fled systematic oppression under the Taliban face grave risks, including detention, torture, and other forms of violence, should they be returned to Afghanistan. The movement asserted that the forced deportation of these refugees undermines Pakistan’s moral obligations and international commitments as a member of the international community. The "Women’s Movement Towards Freedom" called for the immediate cessation of these actions, urging international organizations and the global community to ensure the safety and rights of Afghan refugees. The movement warned that forcibly deporting Afghan refugees equates to returning them to danger, which is a clear violation of humanitarian principles. This comes that Amnesty International has accused Pakistan of violating human rights and international laws, demanding an immediate halt to the detention of Afghan refugees. The detention of Afghan refugees by Pakistan’s police began last week in Islamabad and continues, sparking serious concerns among Afghan refugees residing in the city.

Zan News - Bamyan: A 14-year-old girl drowned in a dam in Bamyan province and lost her life. A 14-Year-Old Girl Drowns in a Dam in Bamyan Province June 27, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Bamyan: A 14-year-old girl drowned in a dam in Bamyan province and lost her life. Mohammad Khawani Rasa, the spokesperson for the Taliban police command in Bamyan, said that the incident occurred yesterday, Wednesday (June 26), in the Saighan district. Rasa added that the girl drowned in a dam in the "Sialayak" area of Saighan district and died. The Taliban police spokesperson in Bamyan stated that the reason for the girl's drowning was parental negligence. He said that Taliban security forces retrieved the girl's body from the water and handed it over to her family. It is worth noting that drowning incidents involving children in water accidents claim the lives of several children in Afghanistan every year.

Zan News: Afghan female athletes who fled to Pakistan following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan say that when they were in Afghanistan, football was everything to them – "their joy, passion, and dreams." Now, they are engaged in football in another place. Afghan Female Athletes Refugees in Pakistan: Football is Our Source of Hope and Strength July 18, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Afghan female athletes who fled to Pakistan following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan say that when they were in Afghanistan, football was everything to them – "their joy, passion, and dreams." Now, they are engaged in football in another place. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in an interview with some Afghan female athletes in Pakistan and the release of a video recording of their statements, said that football for these women in Pakistan is more than just a game; it is a source of hope and strength. In the video, the female athletes say, "When we were in Afghanistan, we played in a football team and nurtured dreams of becoming professional players through football." They emphasize, "Although we were forced to leave our homeland, we never gave up." Some Afghan female athletes who have taken refuge in other countries have continued to play their favorite sports. They say, "Football gives us hope and strength. We share this hope with our team. We feel like the whole world is watching us and telling us not to give up." This comes as the Taliban, after coming to power in Afghanistan, have deprived many women and girls of their rights, including the right to education and work. The Taliban have also imposed numerous restrictions on women's presence in public places, including banning women's sports in the country. Meanwhile, six athletes, including three women from Afghanistan, are set to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, the Taliban have stated that "We do not recognize the three Afghan female athletes who are participating in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics." Kimia Yousufi, an Afghan athlete who is set to represent Afghanistan alongside five other athletes in these games, has said that she will represent the "stolen dreams and aspirations" of Afghan girls in these competitions.

Zan News: Civil society and human rights organizations from Afghanistan have warned about the situation of Afghan refugees and human rights defenders in Pakistan. Photo: samaatv Warning from Civil Society and Human Rights Organizations about the Critical Situation of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan January 22, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Civil society and human rights organizations from Afghanistan have warned about the situation of Afghan refugees and human rights defenders in Pakistan. In a statement released on Tuesday, (January 22), Afghan civil society and human rights organizations expressed their deep concern about the critical conditions of Afghan refugees, especially human rights defenders, women, children, and vulnerable groups in Pakistan. The statement identifies the actions of the Pakistani government, including the forced expulsion of refugees and violations of international law, as the main reasons for the worsening of their situation. The statement emphasizes that after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, thousands of Afghan citizens, including human rights activists, journalists, and female protesters, were forced to flee their homeland. However, recent decisions by the Pakistani government to forcibly expel refugees, without regard for the serious risks they face in Afghanistan, constitute a clear violation of human rights and have endangered the lives of thousands of individuals. The organizations also criticized the performance of the United Nations and its cooperating office (SHARP) in Pakistan. The statement notes that these organizations have failed to protect the refugees and have remained silent in the face of violations by the Pakistani government. This behavior has led to increased despair and helplessness among Afghan refugees. In their statement, the organizations have called on the United Nations and UNHCR to immediately stop the forced expulsion of refugees, ensure their security, review the performance of the SHARP office and address its inefficiencies, and accelerate the process of refugee registration and relocation to safe countries. They have also requested the Pakistani government to respect international laws, immediately halt the forced expulsion of refugees, and cooperate with international organizations in providing humanitarian assistance to refugees. Civil society organizations have warned that the continuation of the current situation could lead to another humanitarian disaster in Pakistan. They emphasized that the international community's indifference will not only increase the suffering of refugees but will also undermine the credibility of international institutions. The statement calls on the United Nations, the Pakistani government, and the international community to take immediate and effective actions to manage the Afghan refugee crisis in Pakistan and ensure their rights in accordance with international commitments.

Zan News: Following the Taliban's reaction to the participation of three Afghan female athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kamia Yousufi, one of Afghanistan’s representatives in these competitions, stated that she is "representing the stolen dreams" of Afghan women. Kamia Yousufi: I am Representing the Stolen Dreams of Afghan Women at the Paris Olympics July 10, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Following the Taliban's reaction to the participation of three Afghan female athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kamia Yousufi, one of Afghanistan’s representatives in these competitions, stated that she is "representing the stolen dreams" of Afghan women. On Tuesday (July 9), Yousufi told the Australian Olympic Committee that she represents the girls and women who have been deprived of their right to education under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. She said, "It is an honor to once again represent the girls of my homeland, girls and women who are deprived of their basic rights, including education, which is the most important." Kamia Yousufi, a sprinter, first participated in the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil and later in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This will be her third appearance in the Olympic Games. Yousufi’s remarks come as the Taliban announced that they do not recognize the three Afghan female athletes participating in the Paris Olympics. Meanwhile, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, reacted to the lack of support from the Taliban for Afghan female athletes in the Paris Olympics. He called for support from sports organizations both inside and outside the country. Bennett posted on X, "Women and girls in Afghanistan have the right to participate in sports. I eagerly await the competition of talented and inspiring Afghan women and men in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris." Previously, the spokesperson for the Afghanistan Olympic Committee, now under Taliban control, stated that the committee does not recognize the three women participating in the Paris Olympics and only acknowledges the three male representatives of Afghanistan. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, which will begin on July 26 and continue until August 11, three women will represent Afghanistan in cycling and sprinting. Three men will also participate, with two joining from abroad. Since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, women's sports have been banned in the country, and many female athletes have left and are living in exile.

Local sources in Baghlan province say that a Taliban member has killed three members of his family, including his wife, brother, and nephew, in Khanjan district of the province. Social Media Baghlan: Taliban Member Kills Wife, Brother, and Nephew April 21, 2025 Zan News Local sources in Baghlan province say that a Taliban member has killed three members of his family, including his wife, brother, and nephew, in Khanjan district of the province. According to sources, the incident occurred on Saturday, April 19. The Taliban member has been identified as Abdullah Safai. He reportedly killed his wife with an axe, and then shot and killed his brother and nephew. Information obtained indicates that Abdullah had a history of domestic violence and had joined the Taliban in 2017 after murdering his first wife. Local sources cited family disputes and a land conflict as the reasons behind the incident. So far, Taliban officials in Baghlan have not commented on the case. It is worth noting that some individuals within the Taliban ranks have criminal backgrounds, including involvement in murder, theft, and domestic violence.

Zan News: On the occasion of November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Women's Unity and Solidarity Movement issued a statement and released protest videos, emphasizing the need for global action to address the rising violence against women in Afghanistan. Sent to Zan News Women's Unity and Solidarity Movement Calls for Global Action to Combat Violence Against Women in Afghanistan November 25, 2024 Zan News Zan News: On the occasion of November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Women's Unity and Solidarity Movement issued a statement and released protest videos, emphasizing the need for global action to address the rising violence against women in Afghanistan. The statement notes that the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women comes at a time when "women in Afghanistan are facing various forms of physical and psychological violence, including suicide, rape, murder, suppression, torture, imprisonment, deprivation of education, forced marriages, child marriages, desert court, unemployment, restrictions on human freedoms, the sale of girls, the prohibition of women in the media, and all forms of physical and psychological violence. The main cause of these crimes and violence is the Taliban's laws and their extremist ideology against women." With the slogan "Stop Violence Against Women in Afghanistan and Prosecute the Taliban," the movement has called on the international community to take immediate and practical action to address the ongoing violence against women in Afghanistan.