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Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Parwan province have reported an outbreak of an unknown and ‘contagious’ disease in the Ghorband Valley of this province. Image: 8am.media Outbreak of Unknown Disease in Parwan; 500 Infected and Two Dead in the Past 24 Hours September 25, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Parwan province have reported an outbreak of an unknown and ‘contagious’ disease in the Ghorband Valley of this province. Hekmatullah Shamim, the spokesperson for the Taliban governor in Parwan, said on Wednesday (September 25) that at least 500 people in the Kafshan Valley of Shinwari district have been infected with this disease in the past 24 hours. According to Shamim, this disease has so far claimed the lives of two people, and the health condition of 50 others is reported to be critical. He added that the infected individuals are suffering from general physical weakness, severe pain in the hands and feet, severe diarrhea, and high fever. On the other hand, residents of Shinwari district in Parwan say that the number of infected people is increasing and they are calling for immediate assistance from international organizations, especially the World Health Organization. They warned that if medical aid does not arrive on time, the death toll from this disease will increase."

Zan News: A number of Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan, who are awaiting resettlement in the United States, have sent a letter to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting an immediate halt to their arrest and forced deportation from the country. Photo: Rahmat Gul/AP Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Urge Shehbaz Sharif to Halt Forced Deportations March 24, 2025 Zan News Zan News: A number of Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan, who are awaiting resettlement in the United States, have sent a letter to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, requesting an immediate halt to their arrest and forced deportation from the country. According to Dawn newspaper, the signatories of the letter have urged the Pakistani Prime Minister to immediately stop the deportation of refugees whose asylum applications are under review by the United States, have been approved, or have been accepted into the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). These refugees emphasized that Pakistan’s decision to deport Afghan migrants will have a negative impact on applicants for the U.S. Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), individuals referred to the USRAP, and those seeking humanitarian parole. They further stated that these individuals are in the legal process of immigrating to the U.S., and their cases are currently under review or have been approved. According to them, many Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan are undergoing rigorous security and administrative screenings to obtain visas or refugee status in the U.S. Deporting them back to Afghanistan would be a violation of humanitarian principles and Pakistan’s international obligations. The letter’s signatories have also called on the Pakistani government to facilitate the visa extension process for Afghan migrants, as they are currently facing multiple challenges, including high costs. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has given all Afghan migrants until March 31 to leave the cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Under this decision, undocumented migrants and holders of Afghan Citizen Cards must leave the country. However, holders of Proof of Registration (POR) documents issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are permitted to remain in Pakistan until June 30.

Zan News: Masouma Alizada, an Afghan cyclist and manager of the Refugee Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, carried this year's Olympic torch in the city of Orléans, France. Masouma Alizada, Afghan Female Athlete, Carried the 2024 Olympic Torch in France July 14, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Masouma Alizada, an Afghan cyclist and manager of the Refugee Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, carried this year's Olympic torch in the city of Orléans, France. The Refugee Team stated in a message on their X account that Ms. Alizada delivered a powerful message by carrying the Olympic torch this year. In a video published by the Refugee Team, Ms. Alizada said, "We have been striving for years, and I hope to win a medal in these games. Our team competes at the Paris 2024 Olympics representing all refugees. We send a message of hope and peace through these games." Masouma Alizada, who has been living in France for the past eight years, previously competed with the Refugee Team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. At the Paris Olympics, which will be held from July 26 to August 11, she is responsible for 36 migrant athletes from 11 countries, competing in 12 sports disciplines. Meanwhile, the Taliban have banned women and girls from sports in Afghanistan, and all women's sports teams have been dissolved. Despite these restrictions, a group of six athletes—three men and three women—will represent Afghanistan at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Taliban have stated that they do not recognize these three women as official Afghan athletes.

Zan News: Local sources report that three young women in Faryab and Helmand provinces have committed suicide in the past 24 hours due to domestic violence. Representational Image Worrying Rise in Suicides Among Women and Girls: Three Women Commit Suicide in the Past 24 Hours November 5, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local sources report that three young women in Faryab and Helmand provinces have committed suicide in the past 24 hours due to domestic violence. On Monday (November 4), sources stated that in the first incident, an 18-year-old girl named Arifa ended her life by hanging herself in the village of Takht Zaghan in Pashtun Kot district, Faryab. According to sources, Arifa was married and took this action in her father’s home. In another incident, Gulafzar, a 22-year-old married woman in village of Qala Shahans in Garziwan district, Faryab, ended her life by ingesting poison. Additionally, it has been reported that a 24-year-old woman in Marja district, Helmand, also committed suicide during this period. Sources attribute all three incidents to domestic violence. The Taliban have yet to comment on these incidents. Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, cases of domestic violence have increased, and the suicide rate among young girls has reached a worrying level.

Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Herat province have announced the opening of a handicrafts and art exhibition on the occasion of Tourism Week in the province. Handicrafts and Art Exhibition Held in Herat with Women's Participation September 30, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local Taliban officials in Herat province have announced the opening of a handicrafts and art exhibition on the occasion of Tourism Week in the province. The exhibition was held on Sunday (September 29) at the Ikhtiaruddin Castle in Herat and will continue for a week, divided into two sections (male and female). Supported by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the exhibition features participants from the provinces of Herat, Ghor, Farah, Badghis, and Nimroz, who have displayed their handicrafts in 100 booths. Of these, 50 booths are dedicated to women and the other 50 to men. Rahmatullah Mohammadi, the director of tourism at the Taliban's Information and Culture Department in Herat, said the aim of the exhibition is to attract domestic and foreign tourists and introduce artistic and handicraft products. This exhibition is being held with the participation of women even though the Taliban, after returning to power in Afghanistan, have imposed many restrictions, especially against women and girls.

Zan News: The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has announced that it will build 10 health centers in underserved areas of Afghanistan to provide services to mothers and children. Qatar Red Crescent to Establish 10 Health Centers for Women and Children in Afghanistan May 27, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has announced that it will build 10 health centers in underserved areas of Afghanistan to provide services to mothers and children. The organization said in a statement that the goal of the project is to provide primary health care and improve health services for mothers and children in Afghanistan. Mohammed Salah Ibrahim, head of international aid and development at QRCS, said the centers will provide health services to 250,000 mothers and children annually. He did not provide further details on the cost of the project. Mr. Ibrahim also said that during his visit to Afghanistan, he extended QRCS's cooperation with the "CHC" institution in the provision of medicines, medical and non-medical supplies and equipment, and the training of health workers until 2027. In addition, QRCS, with financial support from the Qatar Development Fund (QFFD), has signed an agreement with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (run by the Taliban) to provide food assistance to families vulnerable to natural disasters in the country. The project will benefit 800 families in Farah, Faryab and Helmand provinces. These actions come as the health sector in Afghanistan has been severely affected since the Taliban took over the country. The Taliban has repeatedly called on other countries for cooperation in this area.

Zan News: The Afghanistan Women's Freedom Lantern Movement, in a statement, has called for the establishment of scholarships for women and girls who have been deprived of education. Social Media Women's Freedom Lantern Movement Calls for Scholarships for Girls Denied Education January 15, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The Afghanistan Women's Freedom Lantern Movement, in a statement, has called for the establishment of scholarships for women and girls who have been deprived of education. On Tuesday (14 January), the movement condemned the continued ban on girls' education and described it as being in contradiction with religious values. The Afghanistan Women's Freedom Lantern Movement emphasized that the ban on girls' education is a continuation of the Taliban's cultural and social biases against women. The statement further highlighted that the education of women and girls contributes to development, peace, and the reduction of extremism in societies. The movement also called on the international community to take practical actions in support of women in Afghanistan. This call for educational scholarships for girls who have been deprived of education comes at a time when, over the past two days, two English language centers in Daykundi have been shut down by the Taliban.

Zan News: The United Nations, in its latest report on the situation in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, stated that between May 14 and July 31 of this year, it recorded 2,127 security incidents in Afghanistan. Photo: Agence France Presse 53% Increase in Security Incidents in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan September 17, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The United Nations, in its latest report on the situation in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, stated that between May 14 and July 31 of this year, it recorded 2,127 security incidents in Afghanistan. The report, released on Tuesday (September 17), shows that security incidents in Afghanistan have increased by 53% compared to the same period last year. The report states that the number of armed clashes has risen from 37 in the same period last year to 80, and incidents involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have increased from seven to 13. The report also mentions that anti-Taliban military forces, including the Resistance Front and the Freedom Front, targeted Taliban fighters 73 times during this period, although they did not achieve any territorial gains. Of these, the Freedom Front carried out 21 attacks and the National Resistance Front conducted 52 attacks. In total, 58 attacks occurred, including 46 in Kabul, 15 in the west, 11 in the northeast, four in the east, two in the north, and two in the southern regions. According to the organization, the perpetrators of 19 other attacks have not yet been identified. The United Nations did not provide information on casualties resulting from these attacks. Additionally, the Khorasan branch of ISIS claimed responsibility for four attacks, including an attack on foreign tourists in Bamiyan and attacks on Taliban forces in Kandahar and Kabul. The report also highlights that land disputes in the southern and eastern parts of the country have increased, with 19 incidents in the southern regions and seven in the southeastern regions during this period. During the reporting period, at least four commanders and fighters of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) were killed by ‘unknown elements’ in Kunar, Paktika, Khost, and Kabul. According to the report, in less than three months, the Taliban and Pakistani military forces clashed 13 times along the Durand Line. This comes despite the Taliban’s repeated claims that security has been established in Afghanistan since their return to power."

Zan News: Local sources in Herat province have reported the brutal murder of a seven-year-old girl in this province. Body of Seven-Year-Old Girl with Severed Limbs Found in Herat September 25, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Herat province have reported the brutal murder of a seven-year-old girl in this province. According to the sources, the child’s body was found on Tuesday (September 24) in the 11th district of Herat city. The sources added that the child had disappeared about three days ago, and her body was found yesterday. It is said that unknown individuals had slit the child’s throat and severed her limbs. The motive for this murder is still unknown, and Taliban officials in Herat have not commented on the matter. This incident comes after another child was brutally murdered in Nimroz province.

Zan News: In a move on Tuesday, June 4, the Taliban flogged 63 people, including 49 men and 15 women, in Sar-e Pol province on various charges, including "armed attacks, adultery, sodomy, fleeing home and desecration of sanctity," at the province's sports stadium and in the presence of the public. This Taliban action has once again sparked a wave of reactions. Reactions to the Taliban's flogging of 63 people, including women, in Sar-e Pol June 6, 2024 Zan News Zan News: In a move on Tuesday, June 4, the Taliban flogged 63 people, including 49 men and 15 women, in Sar-e Pol province on various charges, including "armed attacks, adultery, sodomy, fleeing home and desecration of sanctity," at the province's sports stadium and in the presence of the public. This Taliban action has once again sparked a wave of reactions. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) strongly condemned the flogging of these individuals and called on the Taliban to respect international human rights commitments. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, also called for an immediate end to the flogging of accused individuals by the Taliban. Mr. Bennett reacted to the flogging of 63 people in Sar-e Pol province and eight others in Ghor in a X post, calling the act a violation of Afghanistan's commitments to prohibit torture and other cruel and inhuman punishment. Jeremy Laurence, UN Human Rights spokesperson, also said in a statement that flogging citizens in Afghanistan was a clear violation of international human rights law and called on the Taliban to stop it immediately. According to the human rights spokesperson, women who are publicly punished for "moral crimes" are at increased risk of violence from their families and communities after the corporal punishment is carried out. It is worth noting that this is not the first time the Taliban have used punishments such as flogging and public executions. Since regaining control of Afghanistan, they have repeatedly flogged accused individuals in public in various provinces of the country and have also executed five people.