Zan News: Rahmatullah Nabil, former head of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, has criticized Rina Amiri, the U.S. Special Envoy for Human Rights and Women in Afghanistan, urging her to take a stand on the exclusion of women from the third Doha meeting. Rahmatullah Nabil: Rina Amiri Should Take a Stand on Excluding Women from Doha Meeting or Resign June 25, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Rahmatullah Nabil, former head of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, has criticized Rina Amiri, the U.S. Special Envoy for Human Rights and Women in Afghanistan, urging her to take a stand on the exclusion of women from the third Doha meeting. On Monday (June 24), Nabil wrote on his X page that the "complete incompetence of Ms. Amiri" is now in full public view. He added, "Afghan civil society groups should demand that she [Rina Amiri] either address and take a stand on this issue [women's presence at the Doha meeting] or resign." Nabil described the silence of U.S. representatives regarding the exclusion of women from the third Doha meeting as concerning. The third Doha meeting is scheduled to be chaired by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, with the participation of special representatives from 25 countries on Afghanistan and a delegation from the Taliban on June 30 and July 1, 2024. The absence of representatives of Afghan women and civil society at this meeting has raised concerns among human rights organizations. In response to these concerns, Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the United Nations, stated that the role of women will be highlighted in all UN discussions. It is expected that Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, and Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, will meet separately with representatives of Afghan civil society after their meeting with the Taliban. Previously, Rahmatullah Nabil had reacted to the exclusion of women from the third Doha meeting by calling on women and human rights activists to suspend all their official interactions with the United Nations.

Zan News: The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that six individuals, including two women, were flogged in the Deh Sabz district of Kabul. Social Media The Taliban Flog Six People, Including Two Women, in Kabul October 17, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced that six individuals, including two women, were flogged in the Deh Sabz district of Kabul. According to the statement released by the court, the flogging sentence was carried out yesterday, Wednesday (October 16). The statement mentions that these individuals were convicted of "illicit relationships and sodomy." As per the statement from the Taliban's Supreme Court, the primary court of Deh Sabz district sentenced four of the accused to one year in prison and 39 lashes each, while two others were sentenced to three months in prison and 39 lashes. In recent days, the Taliban have publicly flogged several individuals in other provinces as well. Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, public of corporal punishments have resumed. Human rights organizations have condemned these punishments as violations of international law and human dignity, calling for their immediate halt. However, the Taliban insist that these sentences are in accordance with Islamic law.

Zan News: Health sources and residents of Nimruz province report a significant increase in mental health patients in the province. According to the provided statistics, over 150 people seek treatment for mental health issues daily. Most of these patients are young women and girls. Social Media Alarming Rise in Mental Health Patients in Nimruz; Women and Girls Bear the Brunt August 18, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Health sources and residents of Nimruz province report a significant increase in mental health patients in the province. According to the provided statistics, over 150 people seek treatment for mental health issues daily. Most of these patients are young women and girls. According to the 8am daily newspaper, between 90 to 120 mental health patients visit the Nimruz Provincial Hospital for treatment daily. Meanwhile, numerous private hospitals and clinics also confirm an increase in mental health patients, stating that dozens of people seek treatment at these facilities daily. In this report, Dr. Ahmad Sadid (pseudonym), a specialist at the Nimruz Provincial Hospital, stated that the number of mental health patients has increased unprecedentedly in recent months. He added that most of the patients are young women and girls, and they attribute this increase to factors such as the closure of girls' schools and universities, the ban on women working, forced marriages, poverty, and unemployment. The doctor explained, "Of the patients who come to us, 70% are women and girls, and the remaining 30% are young men. When I ask all these patients and get information, they either say it's because of school or they were married against their will or they were prevented from working, and when we ask the young men, they say it's unemployment. In short, these statistics show that our society is sick." The report states that among the mental health patients, some girls have developed this illness due to the harsh living conditions under Taliban rule. Shima, a 17-year-old girl who has developed a mental illness due to the closure of schools, says, "Schools are closed, and I live in a corner of the house like a prisoner. A year has passed, we said maybe the school gates will open, but it didn't, and staying at home caused this problem and illness for me." According to this report, Zainab, another girl from Nimruz, developed a mental illness after an unwanted marriage and is now undergoing treatment. Zainab's mother says, "My daughter was not sick. After she got married, she developed this illness. We have brought Zainab to the hospital twice this week. She has developed a kind of illness where she stands up and then falls down." She adds, "When the Taliban came, one of the tribes proposed marriage, and her father, without Zainab's consent or desire, married her off, and this is the result of her marriage." This report comes at a time when the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on girls and women over the past three years, including banning them from attending schools and universities, participating in sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, even the United Nations offices in Afghanistan. These Taliban actions have resulted in the deprivation of millions of female students from education and widespread restrictions on the social lives of Afghan women.

Zan News: Players of the Afghanistan Women's National Cricket Team have called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to support the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Social Media Members of the Afghanistan Women's National Cricket Team: ICC Has Fallen Short in Supporting the Women's Team January 19, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Players of the Afghanistan Women's National Cricket Team have called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to support the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. According to a report by Sky News, members of the Afghanistan Women's Cricket Team have criticized the policies of the ICC, stating that the council has failed to support women's sports in Afghanistan. Firoza Amiri, a member of the Afghanistan Women's Cricket Team, said that the ICC has not responded to their requests, citing excuses such as the complexity of forming a women's cricket team in Afghanistan. She emphasized that the only request of the women's cricket team is the opportunity to compete as representatives of their country. Firoza Amiri also added that while she opposes sanctions against the Afghan men's team, she believes that the ICC has neglected to support the women's team. Amiri further highlighted the difficult conditions for women in Afghanistan, noting issues such as the lack of basic rights, the deprivation of education for girls, and forced marriages, which she described as "heartbreaking." Sky News wrote that despite efforts, the Afghanistan Women's Cricket Team has been unable to participate in international matches, and even their proposal to play as a refugee team was rejected. It is worth mentioning that 25 female players, who were selected in 2020 to train for the women's cricket team, now live in exile in Australia following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. Meanwhile, over 160 members of the British Parliament recently wrote a letter to the England and Wales Cricket Board, calling for the cancellation of England's match against Afghanistan due to the Taliban's oppressive policies against women and girls. The letter stated that one of the Taliban's first actions was the prohibition of women's sports, and the Afghanistan Women's Cricket Team was dissolved, which is described as "morally reprehensible" and a violation of international cricket laws. England's cricket team is scheduled to face Afghanistan on February 26 in the group stage of the ICC Championship in Lahore, Pakistan.

Zan News: Human Rights Watch has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an independent international body to investigate serious human rights violations, especially against women, in Afghanistan. Human Rights Watch Calls for an International Body to Monitor Women's Rights Abuses in Afghanistan September 9, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Human Rights Watch has urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an independent international body to investigate serious human rights violations, especially against women, in Afghanistan. In a statement released today, Monday (September 9), the organization stated that since the Taliban came to power in August 2021, the human rights situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated alarmingly. Human Rights Watch emphasized that the Taliban's repressive policies have targeted women and girls, turning Afghanistan into one of the world's largest women's rights crises. The statement highlighted that Afghanistan is the only country where girls are barred from education above the sixth grade, and women are banned from universities and many sectors of employment. The organization also pointed to severe restrictions on women's freedom of movement, participation in sports, and presence in society, including bans on visiting parks and singing in public. Human Rights Watch called on the UN Human Rights Council to create a dedicated mechanism for collecting and preserving evidence related to violations of women's rights. This mechanism should have the capacity to investigate, preserve evidence, and identify those responsible for human rights abuses to ensure justice for decades of injustice against Afghan women. This request comes amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where millions of people face extreme hunger and poverty. Additionally, a coalition of 90 domestic and international human rights organizations has also called for the creation of an independent body to investigate human rights violations, particularly those against women and girls in Afghanistan.

Zan News: The "Purple Saturdays" movement has issued a statement today (November 9), warning that if the international community does not end the widespread violations of women’s rights in Afghanistan, Afghan women will inevitably be forced to join military fronts. Sent to Zan News Protester Women: Afghan Women Will Join Military Fronts If Their Rights Violations Do Not Stop November 9, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The "Purple Saturdays" movement has issued a statement today (November 9), warning that if the international community does not end the widespread violations of women’s rights in Afghanistan, Afghan women will inevitably be forced to join military fronts. The movement emphasized that the Taliban, over the past three years, have plunged Afghanistan into deep crises by committing crimes against humanity and enforcing systemic gender discrimination. This situation continues to worsen daily. The statement reads: "The international community, particularly the United States, instead of taking a firm stance, has adopted a policy of engagement and passivity; a policy that has emboldened the Taliban and shown them complete disregard for accountability, de facto granting them immunity." The statement further notes that Afghan women, through holding numerous protests and civil movements, have faced various forms of victimization, including "torture, rape, and murder." They have repeatedly called for the international community’s attention and support, but have not received an appropriate response. It continues, highlighting that not only has the voice of Afghan women gone unheard, but international support for the Taliban under the guise of engagement has increased, while sanctions against the group have decreased. "Therefore, Afghan women can no longer tolerate the international community's dual and passive policies and its indifference toward the Taliban’s oppression." The Purple Saturdays movement has warned that if the global silence continues, Afghan women may resort to joining "military fronts and intensifying military pressures" to defend their rights and freedoms. The movement also emphasized: "On the other hand, the Taliban's crimes against humanity are not limited to the oppression of Afghan women; this group has systematically violated the basic rights of Afghan citizens, particularly vulnerable ethnic groups and religious minorities. They have committed apartheid, war crimes, forced displacement, and other inhumane actions, establishing a self-declared and ethnocentric regime, carrying out targeted oppression and suppression." While emphasizing its commitment to peaceful struggles, the Purple Saturdays movement has called for increased comprehensive pressure and the imposition of stricter sanctions against the Taliban. It also warned that legitimizing the Taliban in international meetings is a blatant violation of international law and must be halted. The movement has urged the international community, especially the new U.S. government, to correct its previous "wrong" policies toward the Taliban. This includes imposing targeted sanctions, increasing diplomatic and political pressures, and "isolating this group while supporting military pressures and taking decisive actions for the overthrow of the Taliban government." The Purple Saturdays movement has also requested the U.S. government to "demonstrate its commitment to human rights and global justice by arresting and prosecuting Taliban leaders, particularly Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister, who has a $10 million reward for his capture." "Only practical and decisive actions can demonstrate real and effective support for Afghan women and prevent the escalation of the crisis in the country." The movement has also called on the United Nations to stop whitewashing and normalizing the Taliban’s presence in international meetings and "political mediation." It should increase coordinated pressure on the Taliban by creating and advancing a continuous human rights discourse at the global level. The United Nations is also urged to make sincere and serious efforts to establish judicial processes for the prosecution of Taliban leaders, sending a clear message to the Taliban and other similar groups around the world.

Zan News: Hamid Karzai, the former President of Afghanistan, welcomed the final statement of the international conference "Girls' Education in Islamic Societies," which was recently held in Islamabad. Photo: Sean Gallup | Getty Images Hamid Karzai Welcomes the Final Statement of the International Girls' Education Conference in Islamic Societies January 13, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Hamid Karzai, the former President of Afghanistan, welcomed the final statement of the international conference "Girls' Education in Islamic Societies," which was recently held in Islamabad. On Monday (January 13), Karzai expressed on his X account that girls' education is a fundamental and undeniable right, stressing that preventing it is against the national interests and the greater good of the country. He added that providing education for all the youth of Afghanistan not only revives the hope of a dignified life in the country but can also prevent forced migration and place Afghanistan on the path to progress and development. The former president of Afghanistan also emphasized that Afghanistan’s reliance on the knowledge and talents of its children will be key to creating a better and stronger future for the country. This comes at a time when the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting titled "Girls’ Education in Islamic Societies" was held on January 11 and 12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, without the presence of the Taliban and with an emphasis on the importance of girls' education in Islamic countries. The final statement of this conference mentioned that women’s education in Islamic countries is supported by religion, constitutions, and international laws. While the statement did not directly reference the ban on women's education in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, it opposed the prohibition of women's education in Islamic countries.

Zan News: Human Rights Watch, in a 26-page report titled "Double Betrayal: Abuse of Female Police in the Past and Present," has stated that female police officers have been abused and threatened under both the previous regime and the Taliban. Photo: flickr Human Rights Watch: Female Police Officers Abused Under Previous Regime and Taliban October 10, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Human Rights Watch, in a 26-page report titled "Double Betrayal: Abuse of Female Police in the Past and Present," has stated that female police officers have been abused and threatened under both the previous regime and the Taliban. The organization, in its report released on Thursday (October 10), stated that Taliban officials have threatened female police officers from the previous regime. The report documents threats made by Taliban officials over the past three years, based on interviews with several female police officers both inside and outside the country. The report states, "Female police in Afghanistan have been doubly betrayed; first by the previous government whose officials were responsible for widespread sexual abuse, and then by the Taliban, who have threatened them." Interviewees said they received "frightening" phone calls from Taliban officials demanding information about their previous work. According to the report, these women have been forced to go into hiding due to Taliban threats. The report also notes, "Hundreds of female police officers, while employed by the previous government, were harassed and sexually assaulted by male colleagues and superiors." Additionally, the Taliban have not investigated the murders of several female police officers by their relatives. Most of these former female officers are now living in limbo in countries like Iran and Pakistan. Human Rights Watch has called on countries that supported training and employment programs for female police in Afghanistan to provide support to these former female officers. It is worth noting that reports of threats against former female police officers by the Taliban have been published before.

Zan News: Local sources in Ghor Province have reported the suicide of a young girl in the center of the province. Photo: Freepik A 19-Year-Old Girl in Ghor Commits Suicide Over Forced Marriage February 22, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Ghor Province have reported the suicide of a young girl in the center of the province. The girl, named Samiah, was 19 years old and hanged herself on Thursday evening (February 20) in the "Dahan-e-Akhtah Khana" area in the west of Firozkoh, following a verbal argument with her father. According to reports, Samiah had been engaged to a man a year ago but did not love him. A local source cited her opposition to the forced marriage as the reason for her suicide. The source added that the Taliban have detained Samiah's brother and mother. However, local Taliban officials in Ghor have not yet commented on the incident. It is worth noting that forced marriages and domestic violence are recognized as major factors leading to suicide among girls and women in Afghanistan.

Zan News: Local sources in Takhar province report that a 17-year-old girl ended her life by consuming rat poison in the provincial center. Social Media 17-Year-Old Girl Commits Suicide in Takhar December 17, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Takhar province report that a 17-year-old girl ended her life by consuming rat poison in the provincial center. According to the sources, the incident occurred on Monday evening (December 16) in the "Khatayan" area of Taluqan, the capital of Takhar province. The sources added that the girl took her own life because her family had engaged her to a man without her consent. It has been reported that the Taliban transferred the girl’s body to the forensic department at the Takhar Provincial Hospital for further investigation. However, Taliban officials in Takhar have yet to comment on the matter. It is worth noting that cases of forced marriages and domestic violence against women have significantly increased since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.