Zan News: In a recent move, the Taliban have suspended the activities of 17 radio and television networks in Nangarhar province. Taliban Suspends Activities of 17 Local Media Outlets in Nangarhar August 6, 2024 Zan News Zan News: In a recent move, the Taliban have suspended the activities of 17 radio and television networks in Nangarhar province. The Afghanistan Journalists Center announced that the Taliban's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology suspended the licenses of these media outlets due to non-payment of "frequency taxes." On Monday (5 August), the center issued a statement saying that the Taliban's Ministry of Communications warned these media outlets that they would not be allowed to operate until their overdue taxes were paid. The statement mentioned that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ATRA), under the management of the Taliban's Ministry of Communications, notified the owners of these media outlets about the suspension decision both verbally and in writing. The department emphasized that due to the local media owners' refusal to pay the "frequency taxes" and "non-renewal of frequency licenses," these media outlets are not allowed to operate based on Article 37 of the Telecommunications Services Law. The Afghanistan Journalists Center cited sources in Nangarhar, stating that local media in the province must annually pay 108,000 Afghanis for the renewal of frequency licenses and an additional 25 dollars as incidental costs. The center stressed that all local media are indebted in this regard, with their debts ranging from one year to over ten years. The statement also mentioned that currently, radio and television stations must obtain separate licenses from the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Information and Culture, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and even municipalities to operate. They must pay separately for each of these licenses. Local media officials in Nangarhar told the Afghanistan Journalists Center that their economic difficulties have doubled since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, and commercial advertisements, their main source of income, have decreased unprecedentedly. They stated that they lack the financial means to cover operational costs and multiple taxes imposed by the Taliban. The Afghanistan Journalists Center expressed concern over this action and urged the Taliban's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority to forgive the debts of the media outlets considering their economic hardships and to adjust the annual frequency license tax in light of the current situation. Since taking over Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on media activities and journalists in the country.

Zan News: A three-day exhibition of women's domestic products and handicrafts has opened in the city of Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province, with the aim of supporting their business activities and marketing their products. Photo: Hasht e Subh Daily Newspaper Opening of an Exhibition of Women's Domestic Products and Handicrafts in Takhar August 7, 2024 Zan News Zan News: A three-day exhibition of women's domestic products and handicrafts has opened in the city of Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province, with the aim of supporting their business activities and marketing their products. The exhibition was inaugurated on Tuesday (August 6th) under the title "Afghan Domestic Products" and was financially supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO). Zabih Khan Ahmadi, the exhibition organizer in Takhar, stated that domestic products and handicrafts are displayed in 40 booths. He added that about 20 of these booths are dedicated to women entrepreneurs to support the growth of their domestic products and handicrafts. Meanwhile, women entrepreneurs and producers, while welcoming the exhibition, considered it effective for the growth of their activities and requested the Taliban to establish a designated place for women to sell their products daily. Officials from the Taliban's Trade and Industry Department in Takhar also said that the department supports women's small businesses and their economic growth and plans to create a special market for women in the province in the near future. These statements from the Taliban's Trade and Industry Department officials in Takhar come despite the group's severe restrictions on women's activities in various sectors over the past nearly three years. In Takhar, only a few women are engaged in business, mostly privately and from their homes.

Zan News: The Qatra Charity Foundation has announced that 150 women have graduated from a six-month sewing training course in Kabul. Social Media Qatra Charity Foundation Reports Graduation of 150 Women from Sewing Training in Kabul October 21, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Qatra Charity Foundation has announced that 150 women have graduated from a six-month sewing training course in Kabul. On Sunday (October 20), the foundation by publishing a message on its X page announced the celebration of the fifth graduation ceremony of women in the art of sewing. The message stated: "We celebrate the graduation of these women while the majority of women in Afghanistan are deprived of regular job opportunities and continuous presence in society." According to the Qatra Foundation, many of these graduates are the sole breadwinners for their families and can earn income with the skills they have acquired. The foundation also added: "Our training courses include classes in sewing, educational scholarships, nursing, and direct assistance to underprivileged women. Our goal is for students to achieve at least financial independence after graduation and to help meet their families' material needs." The Qatra Foundation emphasized the ongoing restrictions on women in Afghanistan: "Unfortunately, the limitations and lack of opportunities for growth and development for half of Afghanistan's society continue. We are continuing these programs to create jobs for women and girls, considering their current needs." It is worth noting that since the Taliban's takeover, women in Afghanistan have been deprived of their right to work, with the group banning women's employment in government, non-governmental organizations, and even United Nations offices. Following these restrictions, over the past three years, many girls and women have turned to sewing and small to medium-sized businesses. However, their work in the private sector has also been impacted by the Taliban's restrictive decrees. Women artists are facing challenges such as a lack or absence of necessary funding for investing in their art, and access to national and international markets is very limited for them.

The severity of the cold weather in the winter season has led to the booming of secondhand clothing markets in Herat province. Exclusive Empty Pockets of the Needy in the Cold Winter Air and the Warm Secondhand Market January 14, 2025 Ariahn Raya The severity of the cold weather in the winter season has led to the booming of secondhand clothing markets in Herat province. Some needy families in Herat province, complaining about their economic difficulties, say that the cost of securing food on one hand and purchasing warm winter clothing on the other is a heavy burden on their weary shoulders. Khadija, a 38-year-old widow with empty pockets and economic struggles, has been drawn to the secondhand market to buy clothes for her six orphaned children from the shops in this marketplace. With a cold and painful sigh, she narrates the bitterness of her life: "I have 4 little girls and 2 boys. I am both their mother and father. There is nothing to eat at home. I am left bewildered, trying to find a piece of bread for my children. Winter has come, and from where should I get new warm clothes? I am forced to buy old coat and hats." With a throat full of sobs, Khadija says that her husband was a soldier in the National Army under the Republic system and was killed in the war with the Taliban. "There was no other way for my husband to work, so he joined the National Army. Eight months into his duty and military training, the news of his martyrdom reached us. He was torn apart. I wish I had died in his place, so my children would have had a father and a breadwinner." Shima is another middle-aged woman who is on hand secondhand clothes. She says that the lack of financial means and job opportunities has deprived her of the ability to buy new winter clothes. "We are poor and destitute people. From morning till evening, I wash clothes in this house and that neighbor's house, doing house cleaning so I can earn enough to manage my own household. My husband is sick and bedridden. I bought jackets and coats for myself and my four children with two hundred and fifty Afghanis. What is the solution?" On the other hand, some doctors in Herat province consider wearing secondhand clothes to be a cause of various diseases. Salmah Haidari, one of the specialist doctors, says: "Old clothes cause many diseases, ranging from allergies to illnesses such as hepatitis, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes, and other ailments. We must be very cautious and try to avoid using secondhand and old clothes as much as possible." Nahid Karimi, another doctor, says that needy families should wear secondhand clothes only after disinfecting them. "Firstly, we should try to avoid wearing old clothes, but since poor families need warm clothing, they should first wash the clothes with soap and water, disinfect them, and then place them in the sunlight so that any germs and viruses on the clothes are eliminated." The winter cold and economic poverty have heated up the secondhand market, while OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, states that one-third of Afghanistan's population, approximately 14.8 million people, will need humanitarian aid this year to survive.

Zan News: The Purple Saturdays Movement has strongly condemned the recent decision by Russia’s Supreme Court to suspend the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, calling it a self-serving move and a threat to human rights values. Sent to Zan TV Purple Saturdays Movement: Delisting the Taliban as a Terrorist Group Prioritizes Interests Over Human Suffering April 19, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The Purple Saturdays Movement has strongly condemned the recent decision by Russia’s Supreme Court to suspend the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, calling it a self-serving move and a threat to human rights values. In a statement published on Saturday, April 19, the movement stated that this decision is not merely a diplomatic shift but an attempt to rewrite the concepts of justice and crime. It warned that removing the Taliban from Russia’s terrorist list effectively grants a platform to a group built on systemic violence, gender apartheid, and widespread human rights violations. The Purple Saturdays Movement emphasized that the Taliban have neither changed their behavior nor retreated from their oppressive policies. On the contrary, they have turned Afghanistan into a safe haven for terrorist groups and a source of regional and global threats. The statement also declared that this Russian decision reflects a preference for geopolitical interests over human suffering, and that global silence in response could gradually erase the voices of victims, especially Afghan women. The movement called on international organizations and human rights advocates to condemn Russia’s action and stand against efforts to normalize the Taliban’s image. It is worth noting that two days ago, Russia’s Supreme Court decided to temporarily remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist groups. The United Nations described this move as an independent decision made by the Russian government.

Zan News: Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, says that the Taliban have institutionalized a system of discrimination and repression that is equivalent to crimes against humanity. Image: UN Photo/Mark Garten Richard Bennett: The Taliban Have Institutionalized a System of Discrimination That Equivalent to Crimes Against Humanity November 26, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, says that the Taliban have institutionalized a system of discrimination and repression that is equivalent to crimes against humanity. Mr. Bennett stated in a video message yesterday that the Taliban's "Promotion of Virtue" law is another move to intensify the repression of women and minorities in Afghanistan. He emphasized that the international community must find a way to encourage the Taliban to reverse the restrictive decrees imposed by the group. The United Nations Special Rapporteur also noted that holding the Taliban accountable and achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan requires a clear approach. According to him, the citizens of Afghanistan, especially women, must be part of the country's future in political and human rights processes. It is noteworthy that these statements by Bennett were made in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), on this day also called on the Taliban to immediately revoke the violence imposed on women.

Zan News: On the eve of the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan, several women's protest movements, civil activists, and human rights defenders have issued a public call urging a sanction of the meeting and the organization of protests in various cities worldwide. Public Call from Women Protesters and Human Rights Activists: Sanction Doha Meeting and Organize Global Protests June 15, 2024 Zan News Zan News: On the eve of the third Doha meeting on Afghanistan, several women's protest movements, civil activists, and human rights defenders have issued a public call urging a sanction of the meeting and the organization of protests in various cities worldwide. These groups called on Saturday (June 15) for people in different cities around the world to take to the streets on June 29 and sanction any negotiations with the Taliban at the Doha meeting. The call states that the UN and several countries are attempting to legitimize the Taliban, an action that will lead to the denial of the rights of millions of women in Afghanistan. The protesting women, civil activists, and human rights defenders have made it clear that they are sanctioning the Taliban's invitation to the third Doha meeting and have called on other citizens to condemn this meeting by setting up protest tents. The third Doha meeting on Afghanistan is scheduled to take place later this month in Qatar, where the international community's approach to Afghanistan under Taliban rule will be discussed. Women's protest movements worldwide view the Taliban's invitation to this meeting as an attempt to whitewash the group and have emphasized that instead of being invited to meetings, the Taliban should be put on trial. Despite repeated invitations from the UN for the Taliban to attend the upcoming Doha meeting, the Taliban have stated that they will announce their decision after reviewing the agenda and the manner of the meeting's conduct.

Zan News: The Taliban's Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice claims that it has prevented 2,638 cases of violence against women in Afghanistan. Photo: GMICAFGHANISTAN Taliban: We Prevented Over Two Thousand Cases of Violence Against Women in Afghanistan August 20, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Taliban's Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice claims that it has prevented 2,638 cases of violence against women in Afghanistan. These statements were made on Tuesday (August 20th) during a meeting in Kabul. The officials from this ministry also stated that, based on a decree attributed to Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, 789 women in Afghanistan have received their "inheritance rights." According to these Taliban officials, in addition, the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has held 2,468 meetings to "prevent immoral acts, undesirable customs, and ideological deviations" in Afghanistan. It is noteworthy that in December 2021, the Taliban issued a decree regarding women's rights, which emphasized that widows have fixed inheritance rights in the property of their deceased husband, children, father, and other relatives. However, the Taliban have widely violated women's rights during their three years of rule. This includes denying girls above the sixth grade access to education and closing universities to female students. Additionally, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women's employment, travel, and access to parks. Despite these actions, the Taliban officials claim that they respect women's rights "within the framework of Sharia."

Zan News - Kandahar: Five children were injured due to a landmine explosion in Kandahar province. Social Media Five Children Injured by Landmine Explosion in Kandahar July 22, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Kandahar: Five children were injured due to a landmine explosion in Kandahar province. Local sources in Kandahar report that the incident occurred earlier today, Monday (July 22), in the "Timuryano" area of Dand district in this province. According to the sources, the mine exploded while the children were playing with it. Among the five children, the health condition of two is reported to be critical. Local Taliban authorities in Kandahar have not commented on the incident yet. It is worth noting that remnants of long-lasting wars in Afghanistan occasionally claim the lives of citizens, especially children. This comes as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recently stated that at least 300 people have died due to explosive materials in Afghanistan in the first six months of this year, 85 percent of whom are children.

Zan News: Rina Amiri, the U.S. Special Representative for Women and Human Rights in Afghanistan, emphasized during the United Nations Human Rights Council session that normalization of relations with the Taliban should be contingent upon profound changes in the group's behavior. Rina Amiri: Normalization of Relations with the Taliban Must Be Contingent on Deep Behavioral Changes September 10, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Rina Amiri, the U.S. Special Representative for Women and Human Rights in Afghanistan, emphasized during the United Nations Human Rights Council session that normalization of relations with the Taliban should be contingent upon profound changes in the group's behavior. She stated, "We must collectively make it clear to the Taliban that international normalization is conditional upon deep behavioral changes and the implementation of Afghanistan's international commitments." Amiri wrote on her X page that respecting "the rights of Afghans and ending gender-based harassment is crucial for our common goal of having a stable and economically viable Afghanistan." This comes as the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, focusing on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, was held yesterday. During the session, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, noted that since his last report in June this year, the Taliban has intensified human rights violations in Afghanistan, particularly against women and girls. He called for a collective response from countries to these violations and stated that the Taliban should be asked to revoke their laws and restrictions. Bennett stressed that any progress and normalization of relations with the Taliban should be based on measurable and independently verifiable advancements in human rights. Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, also stated during the session that a comprehensive approach to addressing human rights violations in Afghanistan, including both national and international actions, is essential.