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Sent to Zan TV The Women’s Voice Movement of Afghanistan, in a protest held in Tehran and a published statement, has described the gender-based violence and forced marriages imposed by the Taliban as clear crimes against humanity and has called for immediate action by international institutions. The protest was held on Saturday (May 3) in the city of Tehran. In a video obtained by Zan TV from the gathering, the protesters condemned the systematic violation of Afghan women’s human rights by the Taliban while reading the movement’s statement. According to the statement, forced marriages and sexual violence are not only blatant violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), but they also contradict the principles of Islamic Sharia, which emphasizes mutual consent and human dignity. The movement warned that the Taliban, through their misogynistic policies and the imposition of sexual violence, are targeting the dignity and freedom of Afghan women, and that the international community must respond firmly to this gender apartheid. In the final part of the statement, the Women’s Voice Movement of Afghanistan urged the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, governments, and human rights organizations to apply diplomatic pressure and initiate legal action to compel the Taliban to end these crimes. Recalling the names of victims such as Abeda, Rukhshana, Farkhunda, Negar Gol Andam, and Tajgul, the movement emphasized that "human rights are universal and the voices of Afghan women must be heard." This protest follows a wave of widespread reactions to the self-immolation of Abeda, a young woman from the village of Darzab-e-Nili in the Taywara district of Ghor province. Last Sunday, when Taliban members attempted to forcibly marry her to the brother of a local Taliban commander, she set herself on fire in front of the Taliban fighters.

Image taken from video footage sent to Zan TV The Network for the Struggle for the Freedom of the People of Afghanistan, in a statement, described the self-immolation of Abeda, a young woman from Ghor province, as a "cry for justice" and held the Taliban regime primarily responsible for the incident. According to the statement, Abeda was not just a woman but a symbol of protest and the silent voice of thousands of women and men who, under the rule of oppression, discrimination, and injustice, have been deprived of their most basic human rights. Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the network emphasized that "Abeda cried out her life; a cry that should shake the conscience of humanity." In the network’s view, this incident is not merely a personal tragedy but a reflection of the pain of a generation that has found no other way to express its suffering. The Network for the Struggle for the Freedom of the People of Afghanistan has also called on international organizations, human rights defenders, and media outlets not to let this fire be extinguished. The statement declares that Abeda’s voice must be heard around the world, and efforts must be made to uncover the truth and achieve justice. The statement concludes with this message: "Abeda fell silent, but the flame she lit will guide our path of resistance."

Photo: RSF Reporters Without Borders, in its latest annual report on the global state of press freedom, has announced that Afghanistan ranks 175th out of 180 countries. This report was released on Friday (May 2) and describes the overall condition of press freedom around the world as "difficult." According to the organization's findings, at least 12 media outlets in Afghanistan were forced to shut down in 2024 due to severe restrictions and newly imposed policies by the Taliban. The report also states that economic pressure is one of the major and growing challenges for media outlets worldwide, a factor that has negatively impacted the sustainability of media institutions. Reporters Without Borders has also warned that the dominance of major tech companies such as Google and Facebook over the distribution of information and advertising revenues has significantly weakened the media economy. Based on the report, media outlets in 160 out of the 180 evaluated countries, which is about 89 percent, are facing severe difficulties or an inability to achieve financial stability. In 42 countries that are home to more than half of the world’s population, the situation of press freedom has been assessed as "very serious." Another part of the report highlights that media ownership being concentrated in the hands of individuals linked to political and economic powers poses a major threat to diversity and plurality in the media landscape. This comes as the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan has led to widespread restrictions on media activities, and working conditions for journalists have become increasingly difficult. International organizations have repeatedly warned about violations of press freedom and the suppression of media in Afghanistan.

Photo: © 2011 Ton Koene The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), in its latest quarterly report on the human rights situation in the country, has reported a significant increase in corporal punishments by the Taliban. This report covers the period from January to March 2025. According to UNAMA’s findings, in the first three months of the current year, at least 180 individuals including 142 men, 35 women, and 3 girls have been subjected to corporal punishment publicly by the Taliban. Part of the report also references specific cases. For example, the public punishment of 18 individuals including four women in Khost province was carried out on February 23 in the presence of local officials and judges from the primary court. Furthermore, on February 26, 13 more individuals were publicly flogged in the sports stadium of Sheberghan city in Jawzjan province. This report is published while earlier, United Nations human rights experts, in a statement quoting the Taliban’s Supreme Court, had stated that since the beginning of this year alone, at least 213 people including 169 men and 44 women have been flogged by the Taliban in Afghanistan. The UN experts have called on the Taliban to immediately end inhumane punishments, particularly public floggings and executions, and to respect their international human rights obligations.

Sent to Zan TV Members of the Afghan Women’s Freedom Lantern Movement, by holding a protest gathering in Islamabad, Pakistan, reacted to the self-immolation of Abida, a young girl from Ghor province. In this gathering, the protesters assembled around a symbolic coffin bearing the burned image of Abida and chanted slogans against the Taliban’s misogynistic policies. In a video released from this gathering, the protesters say: “We have come not for farewell, but to honor bravery. Abida did not speak, but her voice rose from the flames.” Also, in a statement released today, Thursday (1 May), by this movement, it is stated that Abida fell victim to a misogynistic and repressive system in which the Taliban disregard not only women’s will and freedom, but also their lives. The Women’s Freedom Lantern Movement considered Abida’s self-immolation a symbol of the systematic oppression Afghan women face daily. This movement emphasized: “Forced marriage is a crime, especially when imposed by an armed and oppressive regime.” The protesters demanded that those responsible for this incident be prosecuted and that justice be served for Abida, stating that this event is a cry from within the fire against the Taliban’s misogynistic policies. In the video released from this gathering, they say: “Abida’s burning is a clear example of the Taliban’s oppression and cruelty. This self-immolation is not an incident but a fiery cry of a girl against Mullah Hibatullah’s misogynistic policies.” They called Abida’s death “a spark of hope and resistance” and emphasized that her voice will live on among the women of Afghanistan. The Women’s Freedom Lantern Movement, expressing sympathy with Abida’s family, called on the international community to pay more attention to the dire situation of women in Afghanistan and to prevent the normalization of the Taliban.

Photo: Kiana Hayeri / Amnesty International Human Rights Watch, in a report published on the occasion of International Workers’ Day, stated that Taliban-imposed restrictions have not only severely reduced women’s job opportunities but also subjected the few who still leave home for work to threats, interrogations, and in some cases, arrests. The report, released on Thursday (May 1), highlights that Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice officers have harassed working women in some cases. According to Human Rights Watch, formal employment opportunities for women have nearly vanished. In addition to being barred from government and private sector jobs, the closure of beauty salons has deprived more than 60,000 women of their income. While women's workforce participation stood at about 19 percent under the previous government, this figure has dropped to roughly 5 percent under Taliban rule. The group’s restrictions have not only undermined women’s rights to work and education but have also contributed to rising rates of violence, forced marriages, and child marriages across Afghanistan.

Photo: UN Photo by Pierre Albouy Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, has called for an investigation and accountability in the case of the self-immolation of a young girl named Abida in Ghor province, describing the incident as “shocking.” On Thursday (May 1), Mr. Bennett expressed his condolences to Abida’s family in a message published on social media platform X. He also emphasized the urgent need for increased mental health support in Afghanistan, citing the “systematic gender-based repression” by the Taliban. The incident occurred on Sunday (April 27), when Abida, a young girl in the Taywara district of Ghor, set herself on fire using petrol and wood, and later died from her injuries. Local sources stated that Abida took this action after being threatened by a Taliban member who intended to forcibly marry her to his brother. This tragic event has triggered widespread reactions. A number of women’s rights activists condemned the incident, describing it as a reflection of the critical condition of women in Afghanistan.

Zan TV Following the self-immolation of Abida, a young girl from the Taywara district of Ghor province who set herself on fire in protest against forced marriage, Afghan activists have emphasized the urgent need to end violence and forced marriages through their messages. In these videos, Afghan activists say that they are all Abida’s voice and have firmly expressed their opposition to forced marriage. They added: “This is only one bitter example of the reality faced by the women and girls of this land, who live under systematic pressure and violence stemming from the Taliban regime and patriarchal rule. The outside world is merely watching and doing nothing to change the situation.” The activists have also called on the international community and human rights organizations not to focus only superficially on the situation of Afghan women but to take real action to end the violence and violations of women’s rights in the country. They asked: “How many more lives must be lost? How many more women must burn? How long will this silence continue?”

Zan TV The Women’s Movement Toward Freedom, in a recent statement, has described the self-immolation of Abida, a young girl from Ghor province, as a symbol of the silent cry of Afghan women and has strongly condemned the Taliban regime for its systematic violence against women. The statement, released on Wednesday (April 30), reads: "Abida, a girl among thousands of silent daughters of this land, under the dominance of the patriarchal system and Taliban fascism, in the moment when all walls rose against her, decided to set herself on fire so that her voice would not remain silent." Expressing sorrow over this incident, the movement referred to the Taliban as a "terrorist and misogynistic group" and emphasized that they must be held accountable in international courts for crimes against humanity and systematic femicide. The movement called on families throughout Afghanistan to resist forced marriages and the sale of daughters. "Do not sell your daughters. Do not hand them over in disgraceful transactions to forced marriages. Stand against oppression, not beside it." Directly addressing men and village elders, the statement added: "Abida became fire to become light. If you remain silent, history will know you by the shame of your silence." In conclusion, the movement, while expressing solidarity with the women of Afghanistan, called on the international community not to close its eyes to this situation. "If you close your eyes today, tomorrow history will write your name beside the oppressors. The Abidas of this world need shelter, support, and justice, not just pity." It is worth noting that Abida, a young girl from the Taywara district of Ghor province, set herself on fire in response to the pressure of a forced marriage. The incident has sparked widespread reactions from women’s rights activists and once again highlighted the tragic fate of women in Afghanistan.

Photo: wikipedia The Taliban police command in Badakhshan says that a woman and her young son have been killed in the Argo district of this province. According to the released information, the incident occurred on Sunday night (April 28) in the village of Arghand, Argo district. However, the Taliban police command in Badakhshan has not provided details about the motive behind the killing or the identity of the victims. The command added that four individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident on charges of murder, and investigations are ongoing. This incident occurs as the number of killings in various parts of the country has significantly increased since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.