Zan News: At least 12 schoolgirls have been poisoned at the "Patab Joy" religious school in the Waras district of Bamyan province. Image: Wikimedia Commons At Least 12 Schoolgirls Poisoned in a Religious School in Bamyan August 4, 2024 Zan News Zan News: At least 12 schoolgirls have been poisoned at the "Patab Joy" religious school in the Waras district of Bamyan province. According to Rukhshana Media, two local sources in Bamyan have confirmed that these girls were poisoned on Saturday (August 3) at the religious school, and the condition of some of them is reported to be critical. One of the local sources stated that the girls were transferred to the health center in the Waras district around 4:00 PM yesterday. The source mentioned that the "Patab Joy" religious school had a program for a special occasion, and the girls' poisoning was due to the consumption of school food. According to the source, some of the poisoned girls were screaming, vomiting, and experiencing muscle cramps. There is also a possibility of an increase in the number of poisoned girls. The source added that the Waras district health center did not have sufficient equipment to treat these students, and the doctors only prescribed paracetamol, which had little effect. Another source stated that the Taliban's education administration in the district was completely indifferent to the incident, and the school authorities have not yet responded. According to this source, Taliban forces have been dispatched to the site to investigate the situation. It is worth noting that the Taliban have not yet commented on the incident. This event is reminiscent of the poisoning of schoolgirls in some areas of Afghanistan last year, the cause of which has not yet been definitively determined.

Zan News - Faryab: A 19-year-old girl named Suraya committed suicide by hanging herself in Qaramqol District, Faryab Province. Social Media Increase in Young Girls' Suicide Cases in Faryab: A 19-Year-Old Girl Committed Suicide in Qaramqol District August 13, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Faryab: A 19-year-old girl named Suraya committed suicide by hanging herself in Qaramqol District, Faryab Province. Local sources in Faryab report that this incident occurred on the night of Sunday (August 11) in the village of Alti-Buluk, Qaramqol District. According to sources, the motive behind this young girl's suicide is not yet known, and her family has not commented on the matter. It is noteworthy that recent days have seen a troubling increase in suicide cases among young girls in Faryab Province. A few days ago, an 18-year-old girl also committed suicide in Pashtunkot District of this province. According to recent reports, approximately 130 women have committed suicide in 27 provinces of Afghanistan over the three years of Taliban rule. Most of these suicides have involved women and young girls. Major reasons cited for these actions include domestic violence, economic difficulties, deprivation of education, sexual assault, and distressing memories from Taliban imprisonment and other Taliban-imposed restrictions.

Zan News: Malala Yousafzai, girls' education activist and Nobel Prize winner, has called on Keir Starmer, the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to prioritize the issue of the ban on girls' education in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Malala Yousafzai Urges New UK Prime Minister to Prioritize the Ban on Girls' Education in Afghanistan July 9, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Malala Yousafzai, girls' education activist and Nobel Prize winner, has called on Keir Starmer, the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to prioritize the issue of the ban on girls' education in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Ms. Yousafzai made these remarks on Monday (July 8) on her X (formerly Twitter) account. She stated: "As you set the UK's foreign policy and development agendas for the next 100 days, it is crucial to prioritize the rights and education of girls worldwide, with special attention to those who are denied education under the Taliban's gender apartheid regime in Afghanistan." Keir Starmer was elected as the new Prime Minister of the UK following the Labour Party's victory in the parliamentary elections. His first action was to cancel the plan to send refugees to Rwanda. Meanwhile, for nearly three years, the Taliban have barred girls above the sixth grade and female university students from accessing education in the country. It is noteworthy that last month, Malala Yousafzai's foundation also contributed $1.5 million to support girls' education in Afghanistan.

Zan News: A number of Afghan women protest movements, in an open letter published today (Sunday, 2 March), have called on the Pakistani government to immediately halt the detention and deportation of Afghan refugees, especially women, girls, and human rights activists. This request comes in response to the intensification of the detention and deportation process of refugees from Islamabad since early this year. Photo: AFP Afghan Women Protest Movements Demand an End to the Detention and Deportation of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan March 2, 2025 Zan News Zan News: A number of Afghan women protest movements, in an open letter published today (Sunday, 2 March), have called on the Pakistani government to immediately halt the detention and deportation of Afghan refugees, especially women, girls, and human rights activists. This request comes in response to the intensification of the detention and deportation process of refugees from Islamabad since early this year. In their letter, the movements emphasized that women and girls detained by the Pakistani police are at high risk of sexual and gender-based violence. This risk not only persists within Pakistani prisons but also threatens these individuals after deportation and forced return to an Afghanistan under Taliban control. They noted that many refugees, particularly human rights defenders and political and social activists, have sought refuge in Pakistan to escape violence, harassment, political repression, and detention by the Taliban. Referring to the Prime Minister of Pakistan's order setting a deadline for refugees to leave, these protest movements stated that many of these individuals are awaiting the review of their migration cases and transfer to safe destination countries. However, the Pakistani government, by increasing pressures such as raising visa renewal fees and widespread detentions, has made life more difficult for these refugees. Afghan women protest movements have accused the Pakistani government of continuously violating human rights and international commitments. The letter states: "The behavior of the Pakistani government toward Afghan refugees is inconsistent with international human rights laws, which clearly stipulate that refugees cannot be fined or forced to be deported." They added that the Pakistani police, disregarding these laws, have detained even children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Reports from Islamabad indicate that some detainees were released after paying money to the police, while others were deported to Afghanistan due to financial incapacity. The Afghan women protest movements have called on both the Pakistani government and the international community to take immediate action to protect and support Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan. They also demand the provision of long-term visa opportunities, the prevention of forced deportation, the safeguarding of security and dignity, the fulfillment of support needs, and the acceleration of the review process for the migration cases of Afghan women and girls in Pakistan. This comes as, since early this year, the Pakistani government has detained hundreds of Afghan refugees in Islamabad and has intensified the process of forced deportation.

Zan News: Trinity Western University has announced that it will award an honorary degree to Shabana Basij-Rasikh, women’s education advocate and founder of the educational organization "SOLLAH". Photo: TEDxWomen Trinity University Awards Honorary Degree to Shabana Basij-Rasikh, Afghan Women’s Education Advocate April 6, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Trinity Western University has announced that it will award an honorary degree to Shabana Basij-Rasikh, women’s education advocate and founder of the educational organization "SOLLAH". In a statement published on its website, the university stated that after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the "SOLLAH" educational foundation was forced to relocate from Kabul to Rwanda. According to the university, "SOLLAH" has continued its activities and accepts a number of new students each year from among Afghan refugees. In an interview with the media, Shabana Basij-Rasikh emphasized the importance of education, saying: “You may be forced to leave your home. You may be forced to become a refugee. You may lose every material possession you own, but the one thing that cannot be taken away from you is your education.” According to the university’s announcement, the honorary degree and graduation ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 18, 2025. Ned Lamont, the governor of Connecticut, will also deliver a speech at the event. It is worth noting that Trinity University is a reputable private university in the state of Texas, United States, founded in 1869 and supported by Protestant Christian organizations. Shabana Basij-Rasikh is recognized as an educator, humanitarian, and champion of Afghan women’s rights. She is also the founder of a leadership school in Afghanistan, and her efforts to promote education and empower women have been acknowledged by international organizations.

Zan News: Local sources in the Gurziwan district of Faryab province report that a 25-year-old woman has committed suicide in the district. Social Media A Young Woman Committed Suicide in Faryab December 18, 2024 Abdullah Naseri Zan News: Local sources in the Gurziwan district of Faryab province report that a 25-year-old woman has committed suicide in the district. According to sources, the young woman, named "Ay Kamal," hanged herself on Monday (December 16) in her home in the "Jar Qala" village of Gurziwan district, ending her life. The sources have attributed the cause of this suicide to a family dispute, but further details about the nature of the dispute are not available. It has been reported that the woman's husband works in Turkey as a laborer. Local Taliban officials in Faryab have not commented on this incident so far. This event occurred in a context where, over the past three years, suicides among women and girls in Afghanistan have increased, with domestic violence and forced marriages being major causes of these suicides.

Zan News: Pakistani police have arrested Zahra Mousawi, a human rights activist and member of the Justice-Seeking Women's Movement of Afghanistan. Social Media Pakistani Police Arrested Zahra Mousawi, a Human Rights Activist and Protesting Woman February 23, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Pakistani police have arrested Zahra Mousawi, a human rights activist and member of the Justice-Seeking Women's Movement of Afghanistan. Her relatives informed the media that Pakistani police, in plain clothes, entered Zahra Mousawi's home and arrested her because her visa had expired. Mahmoud Qasemi, Zahra Mousawi's husband, confirmed her arrest to the media and stated that the Pakistani police transferred her, along with other refugees, to migrant camp. Qasemi added, "We have contacted all organizations involved in refugee affairs, but we have not yet received any positive news." Rahel Talash, a human rights activist and friend of Zahra Mousawi, also said that she was transferred to the camp along with her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. Ms. Talash expressed hope that Zahra Mousawi's deportation to Afghanistan would be prevented and emphasized, "The arrest and deportation of journalists, human rights activists, and women means they are being sent directly to their deaths." She called on international human rights organizations and the United Nations to take action against the forced return of refugees. This comes as the Pakistani government, in a meeting led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on January 29, approved the mass deportation of Afghan refugees. Following this decision, Islamabad began the mass arrest of Afghan migrants and has so far detained and deported thousands of Afghan citizens. The Taliban embassy in Islamabad has also confirmed that the plan to deport all Afghan migrants from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, except for visa holders, is "final and irreversible."

Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Nangarhar province say that a man in the province has killed his 16-year-old daughter for refusing to marry an older man. Social Media Murder of 16-Year-Old Girl in Nangarhar Due to Refusal of Forced Marriage March 13, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Nangarhar province say that a man in the province has killed his 16-year-old daughter for refusing to marry an older man. Sayed Tayeb Hemad, spokesperson for the Taliban’s police headquarters in Nangarhar, confirmed that the murder occurred on Tuesday night (March 11) in the Rodat district. According to Hemad, the father intended to marry his daughter to an elderly man in exchange for a large sum of money, but the daughter refused to go through with the marriage. The Taliban official added that the father fled the area after murdering his daughter. No further details have been provided about the circumstances of the murder. This comes as cases of forced marriages in Afghanistan have increased following the Taliban's takeover of the country.

Zan News: A group of Afghan cultural and social activists residing in Iran have sent an open letter to the UN Secretary-General and international organizations supporting the rights of migrants, calling for an immediate halt to the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees from Iran and for their basic rights to be guaranteed. Sent to Zan News Activists Call for a Halt to the Forced Expulsion of Afghan Refugees from Iran and Guarantees of Their Rights September 26, 2024 Zan News Zan News: A group of Afghan cultural and social activists residing in Iran have sent an open letter to the UN Secretary-General and international organizations supporting the rights of migrants, calling for an immediate halt to the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees from Iran and for their basic rights to be guaranteed. In this open letter, published today, Thursday (September 26) by the Art and Culture Committee of the "Purple Saturdays Movement," it is stated that following the Taliban's takeover, Afghanistan has faced widespread security and human rights crises, forcing millions, especially women and children, to flee the country. Many of these refugees who have sought refuge in Iran are now facing the threat of forced expulsion, which is a clear violation of human rights and international law. The activists in this letter also referred to the difficult living conditions of refugees in Iran and emphasized: "Afghan refugees who have lived in Iran for years in an atmosphere filled with fear and without legal protection have not only been deprived of their basic rights but have also faced injustice, racial discrimination, and insulting and humiliating treatment." They stated that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as the agency responsible for protecting refugees in Iran, has "unacceptably failed" to fulfill its duties and has not been able to effectively defend the rights of refugees. The letter includes demands such as an immediate halt to the forced expulsion of refugees, a reform of the performance of UN agencies in Iran, the issuance of work visas for professional Afghan migrants, and improved health, educational, and social support for refugees. Emphasizing the need for urgent measures, the activists have called on the international community to pay more attention to the crisis of Afghan refugees in Iran and to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

Zan News: The 12th Herat Security Conference began today, Monday (24 February), in the city of Madrid, Spain. The 12th Herat Security Conference Begins in Madrid, Spain February 24, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The 12th Herat Security Conference began today, Monday (24 February), in the city of Madrid, Spain. This meeting, titled "Afghanistan: Resurrection of Hope; A Joint Effort," has brought together dozens of scholars, experts, and diplomats from countries in the region, Europe, and America. According to reports, participants in this two-day conference will discuss topics including the political climate in Afghanistan, terrorism, and the situation of women in the country. It is reported that Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, and John Sopko, the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, are also attending this conference. It is worth noting that the Herat Security Conference is considered one of the most important annual events in Afghanistan, attended by representatives from various countries around the world.