Zan News: Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's Minister of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, recently stated that it is forbidden for adult women to hear the voice of other adult women. Photo: Tolonews Taliban Minister: Hearing the Voice of an Adult Woman is Forbidden for Other Adult Woman October 27, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's Minister of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, recently stated that it is forbidden for adult women to hear the voice of other adult women. Yesterday, Saturday (26 October), the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice released an audio file of Hanafi's statements. In it, he clarified that an adult woman is not even allowed to say "Alhamdulillah" or "Subhanallah" to another adult woman during prayer, let alone sing. Emphasizing this, he said, "When women are not allowed to give the call to prayer (Takbir and Adhan), they cannot sing or perform music." Hanafi also mentioned the gradual enforcement of the ministry's laws and, in response to international criticism of restrictions on women, particularly the ban on singing, stated that the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has focused its reports on the ministry’s activities. He added that the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue "put veils on our sisters to protect their honor, but foreigners unchaste and dishonorable our sisters. This is why a six-point decree specifically concerning women has been issued." It is noteworthy that the Taliban's Promotion of Virtue law, published on 20 August this year, considers all parts of a woman’s body, face, and voice as "awrah" (private parts) that must be concealed. The law also prohibits women from traveling without a male guardian and mandates full covering. These restrictions have drawn widespread domestic and international criticism, but the Taliban have shown no flexibility in their stance so far.

Zan News: Local sources in Badghis province have reported the shooting death of a 13-year-old child in Qadis district. Social Media Murder of a 13-Year-Old Child in Badghis February 6, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Badghis province have reported the shooting death of a 13-year-old child in Qadis district. According to the sources, the incident took place on Tuesday night (February 4) in the village of "Gonbad Shah Ghiyasuddin" in Qadis district. The motive behind the child's murder remains unknown, and the perpetrators have not yet been identified. Local Taliban officials in Badghis have also not commented on the incident so far. This comes as cases of murder have significantly increased across various parts of the country since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan.

Zan News: Recent research from the "War Project" affiliated with the Brown University International Affairs Institute reveals that one in four U.S. female soldiers in Afghanistan has experienced "sexual assault." Photo: Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes Findings of a Research : One in Four U.S. Female Soldiers in Afghanistan Experienced Sexual Assault August 15, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Recent research from the "War Project" affiliated with the Brown University International Affairs Institute reveals that one in four U.S. female soldiers in Afghanistan has experienced "sexual assault." The research, published in the War Costs Journal on Wednesday (August 14), emphasizes that 1.9% of U.S. male soldiers also encountered such experiences in Afghanistan. The research indicates that "these soldiers were subjected to sexual assault during their service between 2001 and 2021 in Afghanistan, with Black women and sexual minorities among U.S. military personnel facing higher rates of sexual violence." According to Brown University’s findings, the number of "sexual assault" cases in the U.S. military reached approximately 150,000 in 2021 and 2023. In contrast, the U.S. Department of Defense previously reported 35,900 cases in 2021 and 29,000 cases in 2023. Unlike the Department of Defense’s statistics, Brown University’s research cites 75,569 cases in 2021 and 73,695 cases in 2023. Jennifer Greenberg, the report’s author, stated that "the focus on troop readiness in post-September 11 wars, rather than other issues, has led to an increase in problems of sexual assault, domestic violence, and gender inequalities in military institutions." The U.S. Department of Defense has called this situation "unacceptable" and stated that continuous efforts will be made to provide a safe environment and prevent sexual assault while holding perpetrators accountable. This is despite the fact that there have been reports of "sexual assault" among the American military before.

Zan News: The Purple Saturdays Movement, on the occasion of Yalda Night, has called on the people of Afghanistan to honor this ancient tradition and deliver a message of resistance and protest against the Taliban to the world. Sent to Zan TV Purple Saturdays Movement: Yalda Night as an Opportunity to Send a Message of Resistance and Protest Against the Taliban December 18, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Purple Saturdays Movement, on the occasion of Yalda Night, has called on the people of Afghanistan to honor this ancient tradition and deliver a message of resistance and protest against the Taliban to the world. In its latest statement, published on Wednesday (December 18), the movement invited all cultural figures, artists, poets, writers, social activists, women's protest movements, and other Afghan citizens to organize cultural and creative programs to amplify their message of resistance and protest against the Taliban. The statement described the Taliban as a "anti-cultural and anti-civilization " group that, through repression and the instrumentalization of religion, seeks to destroy Afghanistan's cultural and identity foundations. It emphasized that Yalda Night, as an ancient tradition symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and wisdom over ignorance, can be a clear message of hope and resistance for the people of Afghanistan against the Taliban. The statement further declared: "The self-proclaimed Taliban regime, as an embodiment of tyranny and an architecture of oppression, is as fleeting as the darkest night." The Purple Saturdays Movement called on the people of Afghanistan to demonstrate, through Yalda programs and celebrations, that the nation, especially its women, believes in the end of the current dark days and carries hope within despair. The statement concluded by emphasizing that Yalda Night can serve as an opportunity to send a unified message of collective resistance against the Taliban and their tyranny to the global community. It also urged the international community to support the people of Afghanistan, especially women, vulnerable ethnic groups, and religious minorities.

Zan News: Mawlawi Muqtada, the Taliban prison chief in Nangarhar province, has been dismissed from his position after marrying a female prisoner against her will. Social Media Dismissal of Taliban Prison Chief in Nangarhar Following Forced Marriage to a Female Prisoner November 24, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Mawlawi Muqtada, the Taliban prison chief in Nangarhar province, has been dismissed from his position after marrying a female prisoner against her will. Sources confirmed to the media on Saturday (November 23) that Mawlawi Muqtada was removed from his post two days ago, and Mawlawi Saeed, the prison chief of Paktia province, has been appointed as his successor and the new head of Nangarhar prison. The Taliban have not yet commented on the matter. Earlier reports indicated that Mawlawi Muqtada had arrested a runaway couple—a girl and a boy—from Pakistan in Nangarhar and subsequently forced the girl into marriage. It is worth noting that this is not the first instance of forced marriages by the Taliban. Last year, in the Chah Ab district of Takhar province, the Taliban also forcibly married a girl.

Zan News: An alliance of organizations supporting journalists, civil society activists, and human rights defenders held a protest rally demanding an end to the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran. Afghan Activists in Iran Demand Halt to Forced Deportation of Refugees From the Country January 12, 2025 Zan News Zan News: An alliance of organizations supporting journalists, civil society activists, and human rights defenders held a protest rally demanding an end to the forced deportation of Afghan refugees from Iran. The protest, held on Saturday (January 11), called on the Iranian government to stop the forced expulsion of individuals who are at risk. The protesters emphasized that, given the current situation in Afghanistan, necessary cooperation with Afghan migrants in Iran and Pakistan should be undertaken. Omid Poya, the head of the Federation of Exiled Journalists, expressed concern over the situation of Afghan refugees, stating: "Human dignity and human rights should not be ignored." He called for an immediate halt to the deportation process of these individuals from Iran and Pakistan. Seyed Bashir Tariq, the head of civil activists in exile, pointed out that although they have repeatedly urged international organizations to address the cases of Afghan journalists in Iran and Pakistan, no attention has been given to these requests so far. These advocates also reminded that Afghan migrants in Iran and Pakistan are facing numerous difficulties, including economic challenges. Once again, they called on international organizations and host countries to address the cases of Afghan refugees. It is noteworthy that after the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, millions of Afghans are living in uncertain and difficult conditions in Iran and Pakistan.

Zan News: Pierre Krähenbühl, the Secretary-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said after his recent trip to Afghanistan that the humanitarian situation in the country remains "dire" and that millions of people require immediate humanitarian support. Photo: Michelle Hamers/unrwa Red Cross Secretary General: The Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan Remains Dire February 25, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Pierre Krähenbühl, the Secretary-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said after his recent trip to Afghanistan that the humanitarian situation in the country remains "dire" and that millions of people require immediate humanitarian support. According to a statement from the committee's office, Mr. Krähenbühl traveled to Afghanistan last week and, during this trip, met with Taliban officials, patients, and recipients of humanitarian services. He also reviewed the committee's activities in response to Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis. The Secretary General of the International Red Cross Committee, referring to the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on humanitarian activities, emphasized the importance of maintaining a neutral, independent, and non-discriminatory space for conducting these activities. He deemed this space essential for delivering assistance to needy communities and added: "The priority of the International Red Cross Committee is to continue its humanitarian activities to support the most vulnerable individuals, including people with disabilities, detainees, and victims of armed conflicts. However, we and other humanitarian organizations need an environment in which we can provide comprehensive support to those in need and facilitate access to humanitarian services for everyone, including men, women, and children—especially in the health sector." The International Red Cross Committee also emphasized that it is engaging with the Taliban to provide safe and effective humanitarian assistance. It is noteworthy that, according to United Nations statistics, 22.9 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance this year.

Zan News - Kabul: Save the Children has announced in a statement that the recent floods in Afghanistan have left 40,000 children homeless and claimed the lives of at least 200 children. Save The Children: Recent Floods in Afghanistan Have Left at Least 40,000 Children Homeless and Killed 200 Others June 1, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Kabul: Save the Children has announced in a statement that the recent floods in Afghanistan have left 40,000 children homeless and claimed the lives of at least 200 children. In a statement released late Thursday on its X page, the organization said that Afghan children are already facing many challenges and that the situation has worsened since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan nearly three years ago. Save the Children has posted a video message on its X page from Ummay Habiba, the organization's communications officer in Afghanistan, who recently visited Baghlan province. Ms. Habiba, in this video on the impact of the recent floods, added: "The floods destroyed the entire village in a matter of hours, completely destroyed 250 houses in this village, and killed 35 people, 19 of whom were children, and sadly five of them were from one family." Meanwhile, some of the flood-affected families in Baghlan say that the floods have killed many children in the province. Saif-ur-Rahman and Noor Habib, two residents of central Baghlan district, say: "In these floods, my two nephews, who were 13 and 8 years old, were martyred. The death of a child hurts a person a lot. We have lost everything. The floods have caused a lot of damage. Our houses were destroyed, only 9 children from our family died in the floods, we have not received any help, we live in tents, we have lost everything, we need help in building houses." Flood-affected families in Baghlan are calling for urgent assistance from the international community and the Taliban. It is worth noting that the recent floods in various provinces of Afghanistan, especially in Baghlan province, caused heavy casualties to the people in May. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also previously said that children and women have been the most affected by these floods.

Zan News: The European Union delegation in Afghanistan says it has supported 2,954 businesses operating under Taliban administration. Photo: EUinAfghanistan|X European Union: We Have Supported 2,954 Businesses Under Taliban Administration March 13, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The European Union delegation in Afghanistan says it has supported 2,954 businesses operating under Taliban administration. On Wednesday (March 12), during the fourth day of its five-day campaign in support of Afghan women, the EU delegation highlighted this initiative, emphasizing its commitment to supporting Afghan women and girls. The European Union also stated that it has assisted 638 women in retaining their jobs and provided case management support to 9,331 undocumented returnee women who were at risk of violence. It is worth mentioning that the European Union launched this five-day campaign in conjunction with International Women's Day to reaffirm its support for Afghan women. This comes as the Taliban, following their takeover of Afghanistan, have imposed severe restrictions on women’s work, education, and social activities.

Zan News - Faryab: A seven-year-old child and a 16-year-old teenage girl were brutally and mysteriously murdered by unknown individuals in Faryab province in two separate incidents. Social Media Brutal Murder of a Child and a Teenage Girl in Faryab July 28, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Faryab: A seven-year-old child and a 16-year-old teenage girl were brutally and mysteriously murdered by unknown individuals in Faryab province in two separate incidents. Local sources in Faryab reported on Saturday (27 July) that these separate incidents occurred in the Shirin Tagab district of the province. According to the sources, unknown individuals stabbed a seven-year-old child to death on Thursday in the village of Faizabad in the Shirin Tagab district. Meanwhile, in another incident, a 16-year-old teenage girl named Hadya, a resident of the Shor Bazaar village in the Shirin Tagab district, was brutally murdered. Local sources claim that the teenage girl was raped before being killed. The perpetrators of the rape and murder of the teenage girl are still unknown, but the Taliban have arrested two individuals in connection with the murder of the seven-year-old child. It is worth noting that in recent months, criminal incidents and mysterious murders have increased in several provinces of the country, including Faryab. In the latest incident, the stoned body of a young woman was found in Kandahar.