Following the Taliban's successive bans on work, education, and schooling for girls and women, the Taliban's Directorate of Education in Herat province, on Tuesday (December 24), hammered the final nail in the door of girls' education by closing the gates of private educational centers to girls. Photo: AFP/Wakil Kohsar The Taliban Hammered the Final Nail in Their Ban on Girls' Education and Schooling December 26, 2024 Ariahn Raya Following the Taliban's successive bans on work, education, and schooling for girls and women, the Taliban's Directorate of Education in Herat province, on Tuesday (December 24), hammered the final nail in the door of girls' education by closing the gates of private educational centers to girls. Citing the decree of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban leader, regarding the prohibition of education for girls above the sixth grade, this directorate has instructed the relevant authorities to prevent girls from attending educational centers in Herat province. Meanwhile, girls deprived of education in Herat province say that with this ban, the Taliban have extinguished the last ray of hope in their hearts, but they have once again lit the fire of staying at home for them. Hewa, a 22-year-old girl whose face reflects sorrow and grief, speaks with a choked voice full of emotion to Zan TV, saying: "I studied until the third semester at the Faculty of Psychology at Herat University, but after the ban on girls attending university, I sought refuge in an educational center to escape the psychological challenges and confinement at home, to learn English and stay away from this situation. But today, they have closed this door to us as well." As Hewa warms her frozen hands with her breath, she continues with a trembling voice and teary eyes, saying: "There is a saying that goes, the final nail was hammered into the coffin of something. Today, the Taliban hammered the final nail into the door of education and schooling. Truly, there is no other way left for us because we are girls." Shima Karimi, another girl deprived of education and a third-year student at the Faculty of Public Administration and Policy at Herat University, turned to learning computer skills after the ban on education for girls. However, she says that by closing the doors of educational centers to girls, the Taliban have extinguished the last ray of light in their hearts. "I was confined to my home for a while, burning in the furnace of confinement. With the mental health issues still in place, I came to this center with the help of my family and friends to improve my computer skills. But now this has also been forbidden for us. Perhaps the Taliban will say in a few days that breathing is forbidden for girls. This was our last hope, and now even this light has turned to darkness." Shafiqa Shojai, another girl who is learning a language at one of Herat's educational centers, complains about the strict rules of the Taliban. She says that although the Taliban had previously forced them to wear black hijabs, they have now deprived them of the right to attend private educational centers." She says: "Believe me, it was very hard for me to accept wearing a full-body veil, but in order to increase my capacity and awareness, I accepted it. Right now, I don't know what the authorities of the Emirate want to do with us. I don't know what our sin is. I don't know which door to go to next." Nevertheless, some teachers at educational centers in Herat have described the new Taliban decree as concerning, saying that with the implementation of this decree, they have lost more than 90 percent of their students. Mahdia Mursal, a language teacher at one of the educational centers in Herat province, says: "Imagine, more than ninety percent of our students were girls above the sixth grade, but currently, not even ten percent remain in the classrooms. How can we pay for rent, electricity, and other expenses of our center? This action of the government is truly painful and concerning. Where has the world come, and which direction are we heading in?" According to these teachers, if the Taliban do not end the ban on girls' education at private educational centers, they will be forced to close the educational doors and leave their jobs. The Taliban have announced the ban on girls attending private educational centers in Herat province, while previously, on December 4 of this year, they had also declared the ban on girls' education in medical institutes.

Zan News: Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Foreign Minister, during a consultative session on Afghanistan’s commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, emphasized the efforts to prosecute the Taliban at the International Court of Justice for violating the convention. She stated, “We will send the message to the Taliban that their actions will not go unpunished.” Photo: tagesschau.de German Foreign Minister: The Taliban are Creating a Social Dungeon for Half of Afghanistan’s Population March 5, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Foreign Minister, during a consultative session on Afghanistan’s commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, emphasized the efforts to prosecute the Taliban at the International Court of Justice for violating the convention. She stated, “We will send the message to the Taliban that their actions will not go unpunished.” The session was held on Tuesday, March 4, in Berlin, with the participation of Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, and several Afghan civil society and women’s rights activists. Baerbock, addressing the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan, said, “The Taliban are truly building a social dungeon for 50 percent of the population of Afghanistan, simply because they are women.” She added, “These actions may be defined as social disappearance, crimes against humanity, or gender-based persecution. I know many of you refer to it as gender apartheid, but no single term can fully describe these crimes.” The German Foreign Minister told to Afghan women, “We will not forget you. This session is about you. We hear your voice, and we stand with you.” Meanwhile, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands warned the Taliban in October of this year that if gender-based discrimination in Afghanistan does not stop, the group will be sued at the International Court of Justice for violating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Following this warning, 25 other countries also expressed their support for this action, and efforts are now underway to begin this legal process.

Zan News: Eleanor Sanders, the British Human Rights Ambassador to the United Nations, at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva, sharply condemned the ongoing repression of Afghan women and girls by the Taliban. google image British Human Rights Ambassador: Taliban Must Lift Inhuman Restrictions on Women March 2, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Eleanor Sanders, the British Human Rights Ambassador to the United Nations, at the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva, sharply condemned the ongoing repression of Afghan women and girls by the Taliban. She described the bans on education and employment imposed on women and girls as a 'blatant violation of human rights' and called on the international community to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to lift these 'inhuman' restrictions. Ms. Sanders labeled the prohibition on women's access to medical education—including nursing, midwifery, and dentistry—as 'horrific.' She emphasized, 'A bright future for all Afghans requires the observance of the rights of women and girls,' and urged Taliban leaders to immediately revoke these restrictions. The British Human Rights Ambassador also stressed the need for continued international support for the people of Afghanistan, noting that Britain is committed to supporting the vulnerable in Afghanistan with £171 million in humanitarian aid. She called on the global community to keep the pressure on the Taliban to abandon their repressive policies and to ensure the rights of all Afghan citizens. This comes as, since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, depriving them of access to education, employment, and participation in society.

Zan News: Local sources in Panjshir province report that a girls' school named "Bibi Amina" in the "Parande" area of the provincial center has been set on fire. A Girls' School in Panjshir Set on Fire September 30, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Panjshir province report that a girls' school named "Bibi Amina" in the "Parande" area of the provincial center has been set on fire. According to sources, this incident occurred last night, Sunday (September 29). Meanwhile, the Taliban security command in Panjshir, while confirming the news, says the fire broke out around 9:30 pm and was extinguished by firefighters after a while. Abdallah Uqab Farooqi, a spokesman for the command, did not mention the cause or damages of the fire but reported the arrest of three people in connection with it, adding that these individuals have confessed to their crime. Farooqi did not provide any information about the identity and motives of the arrested individuals, but sources say that two local Taliban members have been arrested for this arson. In their statements, they said they intended to burn a beehive but accidentally set the school on fire. It is worth noting that this is the third fire in schools in Panjshir over the past two years. Previously, the "Lise Kojan" girls' school in the Pryan district and the "Dasht Riut" school in the Hassa-e Awal district had also caught fire.

Zan News: The Window of Hope Women's Movement has issued a statement expressing condolences on the third anniversary of the Taliban's rule over Afghanistan, describing this day as the "darkest day in the country's history." Image by: Agence VU Window of Hope Women's Movement Describes August 15th as the Darkest Day in the Country's History August 4, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Window of Hope Women's Movement has issued a statement expressing condolences on the third anniversary of the Taliban's rule over Afghanistan, describing this day as the "darkest day in the country's history." In the statement released on the occasion of August 15th, it reads: "August 15th is a reminder of the historical day when, as a result of the disgraceful Doha agreement, a country with a democratic system was practically handed over to an international terrorist group." The movement has called this day a "black day" and emphasized that with each anniversary of this event, the scope of "systematic elimination of women, crimes against humanity, genocide, murder of innocent people from all walks of life, poverty, insecurity, and the breeding of terrorism" expands daily. The statement further states: "Three years ago today, the provinces of Afghanistan were surrendered one after another to the Taliban, and the people of Afghanistan, especially women, watched the destruction of their long-held dreams with eyes full of hatred and hearts filled with sorrow." According to the statement, the tragedy of surrendering the country is clearly seen in the eyes of girls who were deprived of education and forced into early marriages, and the suicides of girls who were denied education highlight the depth of this disaster in daily news headlines. The statement also mentions that mothers who are unable to provide even a piece of bread for their malnourished children due to poverty and unemployment are narrators of a deep crisis in the country. The movement referred to ongoing struggles to save Afghanistan and stated that "our path is one of seeking rights, justice, and freedom with the hope of ending the Taliban's rule and establishing an inclusive and democratic government, and the supremacy of human rights." In conclusion, the Window of Hope Women's Movement expressed support for all fighters and comrades and emphasized the continuation of the struggle for the "freedom of Afghanistan."

Zan News: In a protest rally held in Berlin, Germany, and in an open letter that was released, a number of women protesters, independent activists, and civil society organizations called on the German government to reconsider its decision to hand over Afghan diplomatic missions to the Taliban. Sent to Zan News Open Letter to the German Government: Protesting the Decision to Hand Over Afghan Diplomatic Missions to the Taliban September 12, 2024 Zan News Zan News: In a protest rally held in Berlin, Germany, and in an open letter that was released, a number of women protesters, independent activists, and civil society organizations called on the German government to reconsider its decision to hand over Afghan diplomatic missions to the Taliban. Referencing the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the open letter stated: "Afghanistan is now far more dangerous than before September 11, 2001, because in addition to al-Qaeda, more than ten other terrorist groups, with the support of the Taliban, are organizing terrorist attacks in the region and the world." The authors of the letter considered the recent decision of the German Foreign Ministry to hand over Afghan diplomatic missions to the Taliban to be contrary to diplomatic law, human rights, and international principles, and declared that they would oppose this blatant deal with international "terrorism." They say this action particularly "shocking" coming from a government that claims to promote freedom and justice in the world. The group emphasized that the recent decision amounts to ignoring gender apartheid, war crimes, and the spread of regional and international terrorism. They called on the German government to immediately abandon this decision, as this action would strengthen "terrorism" in Afghanistan and the world, especially in Germany. The letter also stated: "The Taliban are an ideological and terrorist group that should be recognized as a terrorist group by the German government and its members should be banned from traveling to Germany." The authors of the letter emphasized Germany's moral and political responsibility and called for the recognition of the ongoing gender apartheid in Afghanistan and cooperation with international courts to combat this crime against humanity. In conclusion, the protesters stressed that their protests would continue until the German government changed its decision and that they would inform the German people that this decision not only violates human rights but also facilitates the entry of "terrorism" into Europe.

Zan News: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported that over 79 million women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa have experienced sexual abuse or assault during childhood. Photo: GETTY IMAGES UNICEF: Over 79 Million Women and Girls in Sub-Saharan Africa Have Experienced Sexual Violence October 10, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported that over 79 million women and girls in Sub-Saharan Africa have experienced sexual abuse or assault during childhood. In a statement released on Thursday (October 10), the agency described the region as "the worst place in the world for girls." According to UNICEF's findings, one in five girls in Sub-Saharan Africa has faced sexual violence before the age of 18. Globally, sexual violence has affected 370 million women and girls. Claudia Cappa, UNICEF's chief of statistics, stated that these figures were obtained using data collected between 2010 and 2022 and that the actual numbers may be higher. She added that due to the lack of complete data collection, cases of sexual abuse and assault are underreported. Catherine Russell, the executive director of UNICEF, described this violence as "a stain on the human conscience," while Nanjala Maxood, a regional expert on violence against children, called the statistics "horrifying" and emphasized that sexual violence hinders girls' development.

Zan News: Karen Decker, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires for Afghanistan, says that the Taliban's ban on women's work in non-governmental organizations has deepened the country's ongoing crisis. Social Media Karen Decker: The Ban on Women's Work in NGOs Has Deepened Afghanistan's Crisis December 25, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Karen Decker, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires for Afghanistan, says that the Taliban's ban on women's work in non-governmental organizations has deepened the country's ongoing crisis. On Tuesday (December 24), Decker wrote in a message on the social media platform X that the two-year ban on women's work in NGOs has affected countless lives. According to her, women's role in advancing humanitarian efforts is crucial, and a stable and prosperous future for Afghanistan is impossible without the participation of women. The U.S. Chargé d'Affaires also added that the United States will continue to stand by the determined women of Afghanistan. These remarks come as the Taliban have imposed widespread restrictions on women over the past three years. The group has banned women and girls from attending schools and universities, as well as from working in many sectors, including non-governmental organizations.

Zan News: Members of the Afghanistan Women’s Movement for Equality held a street protest today, Wednesday (October 16), in Kabul to protest against the "oppression" of the Taliban. Afghanistan Women’s Movement for Equality Holds Street Protest Against Taliban Oppression October 16, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Members of the Afghanistan Women’s Movement for Equality held a street protest today, Wednesday (October 16), in Kabul to protest against the "oppression" of the Taliban. In a resolution read during the protest, the members emphasized their commitment to "resisting the oppression of the Taliban and promoting human rights, gender equality, and social justice." The resolution specifically condemned the "crimes" of the Taliban, which have led to "violence, intimidation, and harassment of women and girls." The Afghanistan Women’s Movement for Equality also denounced the restrictions imposed on women’s education, employment, and freedom, stating: "The imposition of oppressive gender laws, human rights violations, extrajudicial killings, and torture must be stopped as soon as possible, and this movement will stand firmly against them." The movement stressed the importance of creating broad and diverse coalitions from all factions in Afghanistan to "overthrow the Taliban" and called for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls across the country from humanitarian organizations. Members of the movement also called for an end to child marriage and domestic violence, urging the international community to condemn the Taliban's crimes and prevent human rights violations in Afghanistan. The movement emphasized that "humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan should be delivered in a way that prevents Taliban influence." They also highlighted the need to address the situation of Afghan refugees and provide shelter for the country’s displaced individuals. In conclusion, the Afghanistan Women’s Movement for Equality called on the international community to support and accompany efforts in promoting peace, sustainable development, inclusive governance, and access to justice, freedom, and democracy for the people of Afghanistan.

Zan News: Local sources in Nangarhar province have reported that unknown individuals threw a child into a well in the Rodat district of the province. Social Media Unknown Individuals Throw a Five-Year-Old Child into a Well in Nangarhar January 16, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Nangarhar province have reported that unknown individuals threw a child into a well in the Rodat district of the province. The sources told the media that on Tuesday (January 14) in the Hasar Shahi area, located in the central part of Rodat district, unknown individuals threw a child, approximately five years old, into a well. According to the sources, this child is a resident of the village "Pas Amloki" in Rodat district and had gone missing on Tuesday. The sources further stated that the child was rescued by locals from a deep well in the "Alijian" village, part of the Hasar Shahi area, after approximately 24 hours on Wednesday (January 15). The sources also mentioned that the family of the child had no personal problems or conflicts with anyone. No further details about this incident have been reported, and the local Taliban authorities in Nangarhar have not commented on the matter. It is worth mentioning that reports of children falling into wells in Nangarhar and other provinces of Afghanistan have been previously published. The main cause of these incidents is reported to be uncovered wells and the negligence of parents towards their children.