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Social Media The Taliban's Supreme Court announced that five people, including a woman, were flogged in Bagram district of Parwan province on charges of what has been described as "adultery." According to a statement released on Thursday (May 15), these individuals were sentenced by the Primary Court of Bagram District to two to three years of imprisonment and 39 lashes. This sentence was carried out in public after being confirmed by the Taliban's Supreme Court. The statement mentioned that the flogging was carried out in the presence of local Taliban officials and local residents. In the announcement, the head of the Taliban's Appeals Court emphasized that these sentences are implemented to prevent misinformation and to raise public awareness about Islamic Sharia law. This comes as the Taliban's desert courts continue to operate after the group's return to power in Afghanistan, and so far, more than a thousand people have been flogged.

Photo: Shah Marai/AFP The Journalists Support Organization in Afghanistan has expressed concern over the recent statements made by officials from the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice regarding the legal prosecution of social media use. The organization described this action as a serious threat to freedom of expression and journalistic activities. In a statement released, the organization emphasized that imposing such restrictions on cyberspace not only diminishes media freedom but also represents a clear violation of human rights and media sovereignty. In its statement, the Journalists Support Organization called the Taliban's action a direct threat to freedom of expression and urged international organizations, human rights groups, and the global community to take action to protect freedom of expression and media activities in Afghanistan. The organization also called on media outlets, journalists, and social media activists to protect themselves against these threats and prioritize their digital security to continue their online activities. The Journalists Support Organization further urged human rights organizations, international bodies, and other related institutions to support freedom of expression in Afghanistan during this "sensitive period" and to provide legal and humanitarian assistance to protect media activists from similar threats. This comes after the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice previously announced that the unlawful use of social media would result in legal prosecution; a statement that sparked widespread reactions from human rights organizations and media activists.

Image Credit: AP Photo/Felipe Dana - Symbolic Representation What Do Drug-Addicted Women Endure in Taliban's Addiction Treatment Prisons?   Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, women and girls have endured numerous forms of torture, ranging from public lashings to sexual abuse in the group's prisons and addiction treatment centers.   According to statistics released by the Taliban's Counter Narcotics Directorate, more than 4 million people across Afghanistan are addicted to drugs, with a significant portion of this figure consisting of women, girls, and children. However, in 2022, the group initiated the process of collecting and treating individuals addicted to drugs, a process during which drug-addicted women have fallen victim to sexual abuse and lust-driven abuses by the Taliban.   Zan TV , in a report, interviewed three women in Afghanistan. These women stated that due to their addiction to drugs, they were subjected to sexual abuse and lust-driven abuses by the Taliban in prisons and addiction treatment centers, not only individually but also in groups.   Rubika: "In the middle of the night, it wasn't just one Talib; three or four of them would rape me."   We meet 25-year-old Rubika, who has not only been a victim of the bitter smoke of addiction but also of the Taliban's lust-driven abuses, with a tired and blank gaze in the outskirts of a remote village in Zaranj, the capital of Nimruz province.   She says, with a voice hoarse from drug smoke, coupled with the sorrow and disgrace of notoriety, while holding her two-and-a-half-year-old child in her loving motherly embrace, that she fell victim to addiction in her adolescence due to a lack of guardian. However, after the Taliban collected drug addicts and transferred them to addiction treatment centers or their prisons, she was repeatedly gang-raped by the group's forces.   "I was young when I became addicted with my uncle; my uncle was a drug smuggler. When the Taliban collected us from the roadsides, for a while they didn't do anything. After a few months passed and we regained our health, every night the Taliban would come inside the camp, separate the more attractive girls and women, and gang-rape me many times."   Tears of shame and disgrace prevent Rubika from continuing to speak. She pauses for a moment, then with a deep sigh, she says that four years ago, her uncle forcibly married her off to a man more than 30 years older than her. However, two years ago, because of her addiction, her husband divorced her.   "I had no father; I lived with my uncle and became addicted. But my uncle forced me to marry a man who was thirty years older than me. I have a child from him. My elder child, who was a daughter, passed away. Now, I don’t know what to do with my life," she said. Rubika says she is faced with difficult and challenging choices between the need to save herself and take care of her child, as she says that after being released from the Taliban's addiction treatment center, she developed severe mental and psychological illnesses.   She compared the Taliban's addiction treatment center to a prison and a dungeon, saying: "Its name was the addiction treatment center, but during the days we wouldn't even get food, and at nights, it wasn't just one Talib; three or four of them would rape me because they said this girl is pretty. The Taliban would take many girls and women outside and rape them."   Faiza: "They didn't just rape me; they tortured me to force me into intercourse."   Thirty-year-old Faiza also says that during eight months, she was subjected to more than 50 instances of sexual assault and torture by the Taliban.   "I spent eight months in the Taliban's addiction treatment center. Every day, under different excuses, the Taliban would take me out of the room where I was with the other women and rape me. They didn't just rape me; they tortured me to force me into intercourse," she said.   According to Faiza, she is addicted to opium, which she first used to relieve severe headaches, but that relief led to a constant pain and sexual exploitation by the Taliban.   "I had a lot of headaches, an elderly woman told me to put some opium in my tea and drink it; it would relieve my headache. I did it, and my pain eased a little. From that day on, I became addicted to opium, until the Taliban came, collected us from the streets, and took us to their prisons." Photo: Bulent Kilic/AFP via Getty Images - Symbolic Representation Faiza endured many hardships and difficulties in the Taliban's addiction treatment center. She says that the Taliban, in their pursuit of sexual pleasure, forcibly subjected her to abuse. To achieve their goals, they even burned her thighs and back with hot metal rods.   "I was a girl and I had no relationship with anyone, but in the first days when the Taliban came, one of them told me to come into this room because he had something to do. I went, and he told me that I had to do this. I said it's a sin, you are Muslims. He said not to raise my voice. He forced me to do it. I hated myself and the Taliban so much. After that day, he kept repeating it. When I didn't agree, he would burn my back and my thighs with hot metal rods."   Nilofar: "I got caught in two disgraces; one the disgrace of addiction, and the other the disgrace of the Taliban's rape."   Nilofar was arrested by the Taliban from the roadside in 2024 due to her addiction and was taken to one of their addiction treatment centers. She is a 23-year-old girl who became addicted five years ago along with her brother. But now she says the sorrow and burden of two disgraces weigh heavily on her shoulders."What should I say? I got caught in two disgraces, first the disgrace of addiction, and second the disgrace of the Taliban's rape in the addiction treatment center. The Taliban showed no mercy. Whenever they wanted, they would come and force us to sleep with them."   Nilofar, with eyes full of tears, recounts her cries and screams under the hands and feet of the Taliban's misogynistic forces.   "They raped me by force, not just once, but over and over again. I would scream, I would cry, but no one heard my voice. All they cared about was satisfying their own lust. They would force me to take pills so I wouldn't get pregnant. They said if I got pregnant, they would kill me."   It is not only these women who have been sexually abused by the Taliban in addiction treatment centers due to their addiction; a large number of others are also part of this caravan, but because of security concerns and societal shame, they are not willing to speak about the Taliban's mistreatment.

Sent to Zan TV The Women's Hope Window Movement, in a statement, strongly condemned the plan known as "Mosaic" or "UNAMA's Comprehensive Approach," describing it as a "dangerous, deceptive, and a violation of fundamental human rights." In a statement released on Wednesday (May 14), the movement emphasized that this plan not only fails to reflect the will and desires of the Afghan people but is an attempt to legitimize the Taliban as a legal government. The movement warned that UNAMA's approach is essentially "cleansing terrorism, promoting gender discrimination, and betraying global justice." The Women's Hope Window Movement described the "Mosaic" plan as not a reflection of the people's voice but a symbol of power monopoly. The movement warned that UNAMA's comprehensive approach ignores the voices of protesting women and civil society groups and instead introduces the Taliban as a negotiation partner without any human rights preconditions. The statement reads: "With this plan, UNAMA introduces the Taliban as a negotiation partner without any human rights preconditions. While Afghan women are deprived of their most basic human rights, UNAMA seeks 'constructive engagement' with a government that criminalizes women's education, work, and freedom of movement." The statement also added that this approach practically sends the message that gender apartheid is acceptable and that by remaining silent against the structural oppression of women, UNAMA is announcing to the world that gender discrimination can be institutionalized while still gaining international legitimacy. The movement warned that UNAMA's approach is not only a betrayal of the Afghan people but also a threat to regional and international security. The Women's Hope Window Movement, in its statement, called for the immediate cancellation of the Mosaic plan and the initiation of a genuine comprehensive process with the participation of independent women representatives, civil activists, war victims, and democratic institutions. The movement also stressed the need to end the policy of legitimizing the Taliban and impose human rights and political sanctions on systematic violators of women's rights in Afghanistan. The Women's Hope Window Movement deemed it essential for the United Nations Security Council and international organizations to officially condemn gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. It also called for the establishment of an international mechanism for holding UNAMA accountable and for complete transparency about the contents of this plan before the public opinion of the Afghan people. It is worth mentioning that the "Mosaic" plan was introduced by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) with the aim of creating a space for dialogue among all political and social stakeholders in Afghanistan. However, human rights activists and civil society groups have expressed concern over its potential impact on legitimizing the Taliban.

Photo: Wakil Kohsar, AFP Local sources in the provinces of Badakhshan and Nangarhar report that the Taliban, in a systematic action, have reduced and eliminated university and administrative positions, particularly those held by women, in the universities of these provinces. According to the sources, at Badakhshan University, the Taliban have terminated the positions of 36 university professors, most of whom are women. A female professor at the university, who is also among those dismissed, told the media that this action by the Taliban is systematic and deliberately targeted against women. She added, " My only source of income was my monthly salary of five thousand Afghanis from this job, but now it has been cut off by the Taliban. " The professor also pointed out that the list of those dismissed includes the names of some male professors who left the university three years ago. Meanwhile, sources at Nangarhar University say that nine academic and administrative positions have been eliminated from the Faculty of Education alone. According to the sources, among these positions, six teaching posts, including two female professors, have been removed from the new structure. Additionally, three other administrative positions were cut, and one position was renamed. The source also stated that the Geography Department has been removed from Nangarhar University, and the Taliban are working to eliminate other faculties and departments as well. It is worth mentioning that the Taliban had previously, in a similar move, terminated around 60 to 70 female professors with master's and doctoral degrees at Kabul University.

Photo: (C)Shehzad Noorani Local sources in the provinces of Logar and Paktika have reported that the Taliban's Directorate of Education has shut down hundreds of local educational classes for young girls and children in these two provinces. According to the sources, around 130 educational classes in Logar, which were operating with financial support from the "WIFA" organization, have been closed by the Taliban. These classes were active in the districts of Khoshi, Azra, and Mohammad Agha, where approximately 3,091 boys and girls up to the fifth grade were studying. Sources confirmed that the Taliban's Directorate of Education collected all materials from these classes and shut them down. As a result, dozens of teachers are now unemployed, and hundreds of children have been deprived of education. Meanwhile, local sources in Paktika have also reported that the Taliban closed 267 educational classes for young girls and transferred their equipment to Jihadi schools. These classes, funded by the "WIFA" organization, were operating in the districts of Barmal, Giyan, Zerok, Nika, Surobi, Urgun, Sar Hawza, Mata Khan, Zarghun, Janikhel, Yusufkhel, and Yahyakhel. According to sources, with the closure of these educational centers, around 11,800 young girls have been deprived of education, and hundreds of teachers are now unemployed. It is worth noting that since regaining control over Afghanistan, the Taliban has banned girls above the sixth grade from continuing their education in schools and closed universities to female students. Additionally, the group has converted several orphanages into Jihadi schools and transferred school equipment to the students of these schools.

Image Credit: UNICEF/UN785199/Khayyam The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has announced that it will provide cash assistance to 66,000 families in Afghanistan, aiming to support newborn children in the country. On Monday (May 12), UNICEF stated in a report that this project will support newborns up to 18 months of age. The organization added that 66,000 eligible families in the provinces of Zabul, Kunar, Samangan, and Ghor will receive this assistance. According to UNICEF, the rate of malnutrition in these provinces is assessed to be higher than in other parts of Afghanistan. UNICEF emphasized that this project is being funded with the support of the Asian Development Bank and its other international partners. The provided cash assistance is intended to be used for the provision of food and medical treatment for infants in these provinces. It is worth mentioning that the malnutrition crisis in Afghanistan continues to worsen. Previously, the United Nations had warned that the number of children suffering from this condition could reach 3.5 million this year.

Photo: Learning Together / Global Issues The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice of the Taliban has once again intensified restrictions on social media in Afghanistan with a new warning. In an audio message broadcast today, Monday (May 12), on National Television, the ministry announced that the "un-Islamic and immoral" use of social media would face legal consequences. Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, the spokesperson for this ministry, emphasized in his audio message that no individual or institution is allowed to use social networks for purposes other than what the Taliban describes as "defending Islam, promoting religious sciences, strengthening the unity of the Islamic Ummah, and disseminating reliable news." The Taliban official also warned that the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue, using its "legal authority and available means," monitors users' online activities and will prosecute violators. While the Taliban government has imposed widespread censorship on domestic media, it is now attempting to bring the remaining space on social media under its full control. According to reports, the group has so far banned the publication of images of living beings in more than 20 provinces, even on the official pages of media outlets, government institutions, and private companies. Concerns over the Taliban's pressure on freedom of expression are growing as ordinary citizens and journalists have repeatedly been arrested, tortured, and imprisoned for their activities on social media, accused of "violating" the frameworks announced by the group. Currently, at least 10 journalists are being held in Taliban prisons, solely for publishing reports that contradicted the views and interests of this group. An exiled female journalist, who requested anonymity, said: “For Afghan women who are surrounded by silence and erasure from all sides, social media remains the only window for breathing freely. The Taliban want to close even this window.” Meanwhile, the Afghan Women's Rights Watch, through an official statement, condemned the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue's warning, describing it as part of "systematic efforts to silence women in all areas, from home to cyberspace." The statement read: "By banning and threatening social media users, the Taliban seek to destroy the last stronghold of Afghan women's expression. This policy is not only a blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression but also a deliberate attempt to erase women's voices from the collective memory of society." Darya Ahmadi, a women's rights activist and one of the officials of this organization, told Zan TV: "When a woman can no longer even write about her pains in an Instagram post, it means she has been imprisoned in absolute darkness. The world's silence towards this silent crime is equivalent to complicity with oppression." The Afghan Women's Rights Watch has called on the United Nations, media freedom advocacy organizations, and governments in contact with the Taliban to take immediate action to protect women's right to free expression, even in the virtual world.

Photo: wikipedia Local sources in Herat province have reported that a man and a woman were shot dead by unknown individuals on charges of having an "extramarital relationship." Sources said on Monday (May 12) that the incident took place four days ago in the city of Herat. Ghulam Nabi Nabizadeh, spokesperson for the Taliban police command in Herat, confirmed the incident and stated that two relatives of the victims have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the case. This comes as the Taliban resumed public trials and executions after regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021. The Taliban leader has consistently defended punishments such as flogging and stoning as methods of enforcing justice.

Photo: Melbourne Victory | X The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), with the approval of a special strategy, has officially agreed to form the Afghanistan Women's Football Team in Exile. This decision, described by FIFA President Gianni Infantino as a "historic moment," came in response to repeated requests from Afghan female players and human rights organizations. According to the official statement released by FIFA on Friday (May 9), the team, named the "Afghanistan Women's Refugee Team (AWRT)," will initially operate on a trial basis for one year. The purpose of this trial phase is to assess the feasibility of continuing the project long-term and to create a model for supporting similar teams among refugees from other countries. The team will consist of Afghan female footballers who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover and are now living as refugees in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Australia, and Albania. FIFA announced that members of this team will be allowed to participate in official friendly matches and tournaments organized under the federation's supervision. However, this step has not yet addressed the main demand of Afghan players for official recognition as Afghanistan's national team and participation in World Cup and Asian Championship qualifiers. After the fall of the republic and the return of the Taliban to power in 2021, all women's sports activities in Afghanistan were halted, and the Afghanistan Women's National Football Team was disbanded. The last official match of the team was held in 2018. Since then, Afghanistan has not participated in any international women's football competitions, and the country's name has been removed from FIFA's global rankings for women's teams. The FIFA president stated, "We are committed to giving every girl in the world the opportunity to play football. This initiative is not only a step towards justice and equality but also an important move to fight discrimination and support the growth of women's football." Although the Afghanistan Football Federation still retains its official FIFA membership, under Taliban control and the complete ban on women's sports, the federation has taken no steps to revive women's sports teams and has not been suspended by FIFA. The FIFA statement emphasized that the organization is directly in contact with Afghan female players and is working to start the activities of this team as soon as possible. FIFA has also committed to providing a safe and supportive environment to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the players. Afghan female players who have been striving for years to gain recognition for their team are now witnessing a significant step toward realizing this goal. However, they still hope that one day they can compete under their country's official flag in international fields.