Zan News: Masouda Jalal, the former Minister of Women's Affairs in Afghanistan, in an interview with AFP, proposed a Bonn-like conference as a solution to Afghanistan's crisis. Photo: wikipedia Masouda Jalal: Holding a Bonn-Like Conference is the Solution to Afghanistan's Crisis February 20, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Masouda Jalal, the former Minister of Women's Affairs in Afghanistan, in an interview with AFP, proposed a Bonn-like conference as a solution to Afghanistan's crisis. Referring to the Taliban's return in August 2021, she said, "Everything was lost, but Afghanistan's problem is solvable." She stated, "They brought back the darkness that we had fought so hard to escape." Ms. Jalal, who served as Minister of Women's Affairs from 2004 to 2006, emphasized, "It is challenging, but not impossible, and it can be resolved." She added that although Taliban officials had promised not to bring back the "brutalities" of their first rule, over the past three years, they have imposed a harsh interpretation of Islamic laws, including the return of public floggings and executions. In the interview, Masouda Jalal suggested holding a global conference under the auspices of the United Nations, similar to the Bonn Conference in 2001, as a solution to Afghanistan's crisis. She stressed, "The political regime in Kabul is not supported by the people, and the world does not recognize it, yet it supports it. This makes no sense. So why continue this? Millions are suffering there." Ms. Jalal, pointing to the responsibility of the international community, said, "The world should not continue to watch this situation." She added that with a bit of international will, pressure could be exerted on Taliban officials and their supporters to ensure their participation. These remarks come as the Taliban, through repressive policies, especially against women and girls, have spread fear and despair in Afghanistan. The international community has repeatedly called on the Taliban to respect human rights, but the group has so far shown no signs of changing its approach.

Zan News: German media reports indicate that the body of a 15-year-old Afghan girl has been found by the Rhine River in the city of Worms, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. Body of 15-Year-Old Afghan Girl Found by the Rhine River in Germany June 20, 2024 Zan News Zan News: German media reports indicate that the body of a 15-year-old Afghan girl has been found by the Rhine River in the city of Worms, located in the Rhineland-Palatinate state of Germany. According to a report by Deutsche Welle, an autopsy revealed that the girl died from drowning. However, German police have arrested her parents for further investigation. The Mainz city police office announced on Tuesday: "It is possible that the suspects decided to kill their daughter because they disagreed with her lifestyle." The police added that the 39-year-old father and 34-year-old mother of the girl are being held in separate detention centers. According to the Bild media outlet, the girl's body was discovered on Monday evening. Earlier that day, the girl's mother had reported her potential murder to the Pirmasens city police and identified her husband as a suspect. German media reports indicate that the girl's parents live at separate addresses in Pirmasens, and the girl was living with her mother. Police have searched their residences as well as the location where the body was found. This incident comes amidst a series of violent incidents involving Afghan citizens in Germany. A week ago, German media reported that an Afghan migrant attacked a group of people watching football in a house, injuring three. The attacker, who was shot dead by police, had previously killed another Afghan citizen with a sharp object like a knife. On June 12, reports surfaced that an Afghan citizen attacked and injured a Ukrainian woman with a knife in Frankfurt. In another incident on May 30, an Afghan citizen attacked a gathering in Mannheim, Germany, injuring six people, including a police officer who later died in the hospital. These incidents have sparked discussions about deporting criminal migrants to Afghanistan. Nancy Faeser, Germany's interior minister, recently stated that negotiations are ongoing with various countries to to provide grounds the deportation of criminals to Afghanistan.

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Zan News: Iranian media have reported that a 16-year-old Afghan girl in the country committed suicide after being threatened with expulsion from school. Social Media Afghan Teenage Girl in Iran Commits Suicide After Threat of Expulsion from School November 7, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Iranian media have reported that a 16-year-old Afghan girl in the country committed suicide after being threatened with expulsion from school. According to the Tasnim News Agency, this incident occurred three days ago in the "Shahr-e Rey" area of Tehran. The girl, named Arezo Khawari, reportedly threw herself from a residential building. The report states that Arezu Khavari experienced severe stress following the threat of expulsion from school and ended her life. Meanwhile, the Department of Education of Tehran districts has not yet provided any details regarding this suicide. Some reports indicate that the girl faced the threat of expulsion from school due to wearing "jeans." However, Iranian media have emphasized that the main motive behind this action has not yet been precisely determined, and investigations are ongoing.

Zan News: In a statement released on Sunday (17 November), the "Purple Saturdays" movement expressed concern over the continued policies of interaction and compromise by the international community with the Taliban. The movement warned that these policies not only deepen the humanitarian crisis and widespread human rights violations in Afghanistan but also embolden the Taliban in their "systematic repression and organized crimes." The Purple Saturdays Movement: Interaction with the Taliban is a Continuation of Yesterday's Mistakes November 17, 2024 Zan News Zan News: In a statement released on Sunday (17 November), the "Purple Saturdays" movement expressed concern over the continued policies of interaction and compromise by the international community with the Taliban. The movement warned that these policies not only deepen the humanitarian crisis and widespread human rights violations in Afghanistan but also embolden the Taliban in their "systematic repression and organized crimes." The movement emphasized that for over three years, the international community has overlooked the "widespread crimes of the Taliban" and adopted interaction policies that have bolstered the group's power, worsening humanitarian crises and severe human rights violations against women, vulnerable ethnic groups, and religious minorities in Afghanistan. The statement read: "This interaction has led to the growing boldness of the Taliban in systematic repression, organized crimes, and transforming Afghanistan into an unprecedented serious threat to global and regional peace and security." The "Purple Saturdays" movement further stressed: "The Taliban's lobbyists are once again systematically trying to whitewash and normalize the group to pave the way for the recognition of their illegitimate government, despite the fact that the Taliban have taken no steps towards reconciliation with the Afghan people, reducing crimes, or constructive interaction with the global community." In another part of the statement, the movement noted: "The Afghan people, especially women, express concern from within the country about the dangerous cycle of interaction and questionable dealings regarding their fate and ask the international community, the United Nations, and Taliban lobbyists: What guarantees exist that continued and increased interaction with the Taliban will not lead to worsening conditions and further emboldening of the group?" The movement warned: "The consequences of any legitimization of the Taliban will be disastrous and irreparable. The world must not be deceived by reformist narratives or the altered facade of the Taliban; such interaction not only lack deterrence against human rights violations, especially those affecting Afghan women, but also double the risk of strengthening extremist and terrorist forces globally." The "Purple Saturdays" movement called for the continuation of the policy of isolating the Taliban and applying maximum, effective pressure on the group. It urged the international community to stand firm and learn from past experiences to counter this growing threat and prevent the "irreversible consequences of negligence" regarding Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis. The statement concluded: "We strongly condemn any attempt to normalize relations with the Taliban and see such efforts as the result of failed experiences and deceptive schemes by the group and its allies, which are among the main contributors to Afghanistan's current crisis."

Zan News: The Civil Society and Journalists' Support Organization has condemned the Taliban's recent actions banning the broadcast of images of living beings, calling for UN attention to this issue. Civil Society and Journalists' Support Organization Condemns Taliban's Ban on Broadcasting Images of Living Beings October 26, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Civil Society and Journalists' Support Organization has condemned the Taliban's recent actions banning the broadcast of images of living beings, calling for UN attention to this issue. During a meeting held in Iran on Friday (25 October), the organization expressed concern over the increasing restrictions on media and the arrests of journalists in Afghanistan. The organization also called for the Taliban to lift restrictions on media activities. Following the ban on broadcasting images of living beings, visual media operations have been halted in the provinces of Kandahar, Takhar, and Badghis, raising concerns over the potential closure of other TV stations. According to the Taliban's "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" law, filming and broadcasting images of living beings are prohibited and considered a crime. The Taliban have announced that this restriction will be implemented nationwide, which has sparked serious concerns among media and journalist support organizations.

Zan News: The Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations has announced a meeting with Rina Amiri, the US Special Representative for Afghan Women, to discuss the upcoming third Doha meeting and the importance of girls' education in Afghanistan. UAE Mission to the UN: Taliban's Ban on Girls' Education is Concerning May 30, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations has announced a meeting with Rina Amiri, the US Special Representative for Afghan Women, to discuss the upcoming third Doha meeting and the importance of girls' education in Afghanistan. In a statement posted on its X account on Thursday (May 30), the mission expressed concern about the Taliban's ban on girls' education in Afghanistan and said the meeting focused on the upcoming third Doha meeting and the Taliban's growing restrictions on Afghan women and girls. According to the statement, the ban on girls' education under Taliban rule was a topic of discussion between the UAE representative and the US Special Representative for Afghan Women. "In addition to discussing the upcoming third Doha meeting, which is scheduled to take place next month with the participation of special representatives, we also discussed our shared concerns about the situation of Afghan women and girls and the importance of ensuring their access to education," the UAE mission to the UN said. It is worth noting that the third Doha meeting, hosted by the United Nations, will be held on June 30 and July 1 with the participation of special representatives from various countries for Afghanistan. Concerns about the Taliban's ban on education for women and girls are being raised as the Taliban have deprived women and girls of their basic rights, including the right to education, work, travel, recreation, and political participation, for nearly three years.

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Zan News: Members of the "Afghanistan Women's Political Participation Network" held a protest rally on Sunday (October 20) against the way the Iranian government treats Afghan refugees. In the protest, the network members issued a statement, labeling the Iranian government's behavior as "racist." Sent to Zan News Protesting Women Call for an End to Discriminatory Behavior Against Afghan Refugees in Iran October 21, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Members of the "Afghanistan Women's Political Participation Network" held a protest rally on Sunday (October 20) against the way the Iranian government treats Afghan refugees. In the protest, the network members issued a statement, labeling the Iranian government's behavior as "racist." The statement emphasized the need to adhere to international human rights standards and the rights of refugees without discrimination based on race, nationality, or legal status. It stated: "According to international conventions and standards, the rights of individuals, regardless of nationality, race, religion, or legal status, must be respected." The Afghanistan Women's Political Participation Network, citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, condemned the racist treatment of refugees and called for an end to such "discriminatory" behavior. The statement pointed out that international documents guarantee equal rights for all individuals, including refugees, and require member states to uphold these rights. The statement also referred to religious aspects, noting that major religions, particularly Islam, stress respect for others' rights and hospitality. It stated: "In Islam, providing refuge to the helpless and respecting guests are highly valued, and there is an emphasis on the need to support and assist refugees." The Afghanistan Women's Political Participation Network further warned that racist behavior towards refugees could have severe social, economic, and psychological consequences. The statement stressed that such actions promote "hatred and discrimination" in society and adversely affect the mental well-being and lives of refugees. The network's statement also reminded: "Inhumane and racist treatment of refugees, particularly Afghan refugees in Iran, is not only contrary to human rights and international principles but also conflicts with religious and humanitarian teachings. Governments and individuals must support the rights of refugees based on human and legal principles and avoid any form of discriminatory behavior." This comes after a recent report by a human rights organization that Iranian border forces opened fire on more than 200 Afghan refugees in the Kalgan area, Saravan district. This attack resulted in the deaths and injuries of dozens of refugees, provoking strong reactions from human rights organizations and Afghan citizens. Since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan, there has been a significant wave of migration to neighboring countries, including Iran and Pakistan. At the same time, there have been numerous reports of mistreatment and violence by Iranian police forces against Afghan refugees.

Zan News: On International Women’s Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Amnesty International called for more genuine support for Afghan women and girls. Photo: Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times UNAMA and Amnesty International on International Women's Day Call for Real Support for Afghan Women March 8, 2025 Zan News Zan News: On International Women’s Day, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and Amnesty International called for more genuine support for Afghan women and girls. In a statement on Saturday (March 8), UNAMA, with the slogan "Rights, Equality, and Empowerment of Women," once again called for the removal of all restrictions placed on Afghan women. Rosa Otunbayeva, the head of UNAMA in Afghanistan, emphasized: "Restoring women’s rights to education and work will change the lives of their communities and the future of Afghanistan for the better." UNAMA urged the international community to turn their slogans into action and strengthen solidarity with Afghan women. On the other hand, Amnesty International stated that symbolic support for Afghan women and girls is not enough. In a message, the organization called on world governments to offer real support to Afghan women. The message read: "Their voices must be amplified, and governments must take action." Amnesty International also called for marches and global advocacy for women’s rights. This comes at a time when, after the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, women and girls have been faced with unprecedented restrictions. Girls above the sixth grade have been barred from attending schools, and women have been banned from working in many governmental and non-governmental organizations. Additionally, severe restrictions have been placed on women’s personal and social freedoms, including the right to travel without a male guardian and participate in public activities.