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Image source: CNN Local sources in Kapisa province say that a Taliban commander ran over a woman with a motorcycle, and she later died in the hospital. According to the sources, the incident took place on Monday (October 13) in the village of Turbat in Kohband district. The sources confirmed that the motorcycle driver, identified as “Amrullah,” is the commander of a Taliban outpost in the village of Darnama, also in Kohband district. The sources added that after the incident, the Taliban arrested and imprisoned the woman’s family for protesting against her death. It is worth noting that reckless driving by Taliban members has previously claimed the lives of several civilians in various provinces. Recently, Taliban forces ran over two children in Laghman province, resulting in their deaths.

Image: AFP/VOAnews In continuation of the Taliban’s repressive policies against the media and fundamental freedoms, the group has once again banned the broadcasting of images of living beings on visual media and online platforms in several provinces of Afghanistan. Reliable sources confirmed to Zan News that the Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in some provinces has informally and verbally warned media owners and journalists that from now on, they must not air images of living beings, especially human faces, including those of presenters, guests, and even cultural or artistic figures in their visual programs. According to these sources, the Taliban have emphasized that faces must either be completely removed or blurred to hide them from viewers. This comes at a time when, in many of these provinces, local media remain the only source of public information, and the directive has effectively suffocated visual journalism. A media official, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Zan News: “The Taliban have warned us both in person and by phone that if we broadcast images of any living being, they will shut down the outlet. They told us to hide even the faces of presenters and guests. This is no longer journalism, it is absolute censorship.” This Taliban decision continues a chain of restrictions that has shadowed Afghanistan’s media landscape since the group’s return to power in 2021. From banning music and women’s on-screen appearances to arresting journalists, the crackdown has now reached the complete destruction of imagery itself. Media experts and human rights activists view this move as part of the Taliban’s systematic effort to erase freedom of expression and silence every independent voice in the country. A media activist reacting to the Taliban’s order said: “When you cannot show images, when you cannot see reality, what remains is only darkness and distortion. This Taliban action is not just censorship, it is a denial of truth and humanity.” While the Taliban claim that such censorship stems from religious rulings, many Islamic scholars and experts reject this extreme interpretation, describing it instead as a political tool to exert control and suppress the media. In the absence of independent media watchdogs and without any means of civil protest, Afghanistan’s media outlets have either resorted to self-censorship or completely ceased operations. With such decrees, the future of journalism in Afghanistan appears darker and more uncertain than ever before.

Photo: DW/H.Sirat Author: Mursal Qaisari Years have passed since that dark day; the day when Kabul witnessed one of the most painful moments in its history. The day when Farkhunda Malikzada, a young, educated, and faithful woman, was brutally murdered before the eyes of the people on the false accusation of burning the Quran. Later, everyone realized she was innocent, but by then it was too late. Farkhunda, along with all her dreams, was turned to ashes in the fire. They killed her in the heart of Kabul, over a lie that had no proof. They beat Farkhunda, burned her, and threw her into the river; only for defending the truth. Farkhunda was killed unjustly, yet justice was never served. Her killers were either freed or spent only a few years in prison. No one understood her mother’s pain, and no one heard her father’s voice. Farkhunda was forgotten, and everyone remained silent. Exactly one year after her murder, another girl was stoned to death. That year, Ghor fell into mourning and lost its beautiful daughter, Rukhshana. She was stoned for running away from home; for falling in love and for wanting to make her own decisions. But because she was a girl from Afghanistan, this desire was considered an unforgivable sin. Stones struck her body, and with every blow, Rukhshana’s cries carried the silent screams of all women. Rukhshana was killed by stones; only for the crime of loving. She was stoned to death while everyone watched. No one was held accountable; not a court, not a law, not even a conscience. As if no crime had been committed, and stoning was her rightful punishment. I was still just a little girl in those years. When we heard the news about Farkhunda, my mother cried, my sister had nightmares at night, and I? Something broke inside my young heart. From that age, I understood that in my land, to know, to speak, or even to love is a crime. When the videos of Rukhshana’s stoning were broadcast on television, that same terrible feeling came over me again. At night I used to feel afraid, and I had come to hate life. I constantly asked myself: Is simply being a girl truly a crime? I wondered why none of these things ever happen to men. Even today, my mind is full of questions. Sometimes I ask myself: Who still remembers Rukhshana and Farkhunda? The street where Farkhunda was killed is still full of passersby, and the field where Rukhshana was stoned remains silent. But in our hearts, in our collective memory, is there still a place for them? They have been forgotten, and this forgetting itself is terrifying. Forgetting means accepting oppression, erasing the voices of women who were killed simply for speaking and seeking freedom. Farkhunda burned in the fire of ignorance, and Rukhshana lost her life beneath merciless stones. Even now, my heart trembles when I say their names. Writing about those dark days is not easy for me. With every word I write, tears fill my eyes and a lump tightens in my throat. Farkhunda and Rukhshana were not just two women; they represent hundreds of Afghan women who are being buried alive in different corners of Afghanistan. I still hear Farkhunda’s voice in my ears, especially when I pass by a mosque. Every time I look at a mountain, I remember Rukhshana; the beautiful girl who fell in love, but was struck by stones. These events always make me ask myself: Why, in my homeland, are both faith and love considered crimes? For me, Farkhunda and Rukhshana are still the most vivid truths of my homeland today. And I, as a daughter of this land, vow never to let their memory fade, so that one day, if history asks us, “When they were killing your daughters, what did you do?” I can say that we did not remain silent. I wrote, I cried out, and I reminded people of their courage. We will keep the names of Farkhunda and Rukhshana alive in our soil. Every girl who, like me, picks up a pen today should know that she carries on the voices of those two; voices that were silenced, yet became a light for the girls who still fight in the depths of darkness. Though Farkhunda and Rukhshana are no longer among us, they are still alive, in our hearts, in our tears, and in our words. I remember them every day, and as long as I live and hold a pen in my hand, I will never let their names disappear into silence.

Photo: REUTERS Following rising tensions between the Taliban and Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Pakistan’s Defense Minister, has said that the current situation concerning Afghanistan shows that the time has come for Afghan refugees to leave Pakistan after five decades. On Sunday night (October 12), Asif wrote in a post on the social media platform X: “Pakistan’s economy must be freed from their dominance. From bakeries to transportation, projects, and the trucking mafia, everything is under the control of Afghans. They are the backbone of our economy and should not remain in the hands of others.” Asif further emphasized that the Pakistan-Afghanistan border should be controlled like the official borders of other countries and that no one should enter Pakistan without authorization. He added, “It cannot be that someone wakes up in the morning and crosses the border to come to Peshawar for breakfast.” These remarks come a night after heavy clashes broke out between Taliban forces and the Pakistani army in border areas. It is worth noting that since 2023, the Pakistani government has implemented a plan to “deport illegal foreign nationals,” a policy that includes not only undocumented refugees but also some holders of official registration cards (POR). This year, Islamabad has decided to expel more than 1.4 million registered refugees with POR cards as well. Pakistani officials describe this move as part of the country’s national security, anti-smuggling, and border control policies. But, thousands of Afghan refugees, especially women and children, are now facing the imminent risk of arrest and deportation. This deportation policy not only threatens the lives of ordinary refugees but also endangers hundreds of women activists, journalists, and human rights defenders who fled to Pakistan to escape Taliban persecution and are now once again facing the danger of arrest, deportation, and forced return. International organizations, including the United Nations and Amnesty International, have condemned this policy as “inhumane,” warning that forced deportations could lead to a large-scale humanitarian crisis.

Photo: Amu The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that Afghanistan’s education system is facing an unprecedented crisis, with millions of children, especially girls, deprived of going to school. In a report published on Sunday (October 12), UNICEF stated that political restrictions, lack of funding, and successive humanitarian crises have destroyed the educational achievements of the past two decades and have significantly increased inequalities. According to the report, more than two million girls are deprived of education beyond the sixth grade. A shortage of teachers, especially female teachers, along with the lack of school buildings and basic facilities such as electricity, water, and sanitation services, has severely reduced the quality of education. UNICEF’s findings show that nearly half of Afghanistan’s public schools lack proper buildings, 79 percent have no electricity, and many are without access to drinking water or toilets. The report also noted that since the Taliban’s takeover, religious education has made up a significant portion of the curriculum in public schools, with half of class hours now dedicated to Islamic studies; a change that has further limited opportunities to learn modern sciences. According to UNICEF, 90 percent of ten-year-old children in Afghanistan are unable to read a simple text, a clear sign of the country’s worsening learning crisis. The organization added that the return of more than two million migrants from Iran and Pakistan since 2023 has placed additional pressure on the education system. Many returning children, especially girls over the age of twelve, have been unable to continue their studies due to lack of infrastructure and restrictions. It is worth noting that four years after the Taliban’s return to power, girls’ education has not only been banned but the overall educational structure of Afghanistan is collapsing. Poverty, the exclusion of girls from schools, and the weakening of women teachers’ roles have put the future of an entire generation at risk.

Image: AFP UN Women in Afghanistan has said that Afghan girls, despite living through one of the most severe crises in women’s rights, still strive with hope and determination to build their future. The organization wrote in a post on the social network X on Sunday (October 12): “Afghan girls dream of classrooms, shaping their own futures. Despite growing up in the most severe women’s rights crisis, they are hopeful and determined.” UN Women emphasized that it stands alongside Afghan girls and continues to invest in their abilities and their future. This comes while, after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, secondary and higher education for girls in Afghanistan has been banned; a decision that has made the country the only place in the world with such a restriction. This ban has led to the spread of depression, isolation, and an increase in forced marriages among girls, and has plunged the future of Afghan women and girls into darkness.

Image Source: sidhant/X Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, said during a press conference in New Delhi on Sunday (October 12) regarding the ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan: “We have never declared women’s education haram; it has only been postponed until further notice.” The press conference was held at the request of India’s Ministry of External Affairs following widespread outrage over the exclusion of female journalists from the Taliban’s previous press conference. Muttaqi added, “We have 10 million students in schools and institutes, including 2.8 million women and girls. There are restrictions, but we have never declared women’s education haram; it has only been delayed until further notice.” These remarks come as four years have passed since secondary and high schools for girls were closed in Afghanistan, with the Taliban taking no steps toward reopening them. Since the group’s return to power, Afghanistan has become the only country in the world where secondary and higher education for girls is banned. The United Nations and UNESCO have described this policy as a clear example of “gender apartheid.” Muttaqi’s remarks echo the Taliban’s repeated promise of “until further notice”; a phrase that over the past four years has deprived millions of Afghan girls of education, hope, and a future. During this period, the Taliban have not only refused to reopen schools but have also shut down hundreds of educational institutions and forced dozens of female teachers to remain at home.

Image Source: sidhant/X Following strong criticism of the Taliban’s misogynistic conduct in New Delhi, Amir Khan Muttaqi, the group’s foreign minister, was compelled on Sunday (October 12) to hold a new press conference at the Afghan Embassy with the presence of female journalists. In the initial press briefing held on Friday (October 10), the Taliban had barred female journalists from attending; an act that sparked outrage among Indian media, women’s rights activists, and political leaders. In response to the backlash, India’s Ministry of External Affairs requested that the Taliban delegation hold a new conference with equal participation of male and female journalists. Earlier, a spokesperson for the ministry had clarified that the original press conference was held inside the Afghan Embassy and was beyond India’s jurisdiction. In today’s session, Muttaqi answered questions from female reporters and also addressed the ongoing border tensions with Pakistan. He claimed that during last night’s Taliban attacks on border posts, 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed. Muttaqi also confirmed the deaths of 9 Taliban fighters. However, Pakistani media reported that the country’s military had taken control of 19 Taliban posts. The Taliban, claimed to have captured 25 Pakistani border posts. Local sources say that this morning, the Pakistani military carried out airstrikes on Taliban positions in Helmand and Paktika provinces.

Photo: The New York Times, via The Japan Times “Ending life may be better than being imprisoned at home” New findings by Zan News show that more than 60 percent of women and girls who were forcibly deported from Iran and returned to Afghanistan in the past three months are suffering from severe psychological and mental health problems. These results are based on a field study in which 200 returned women and girls in three border provinces of the country, including Farah, Herat, and Nimroz, were directly interviewed. In each of these provinces, around 67 returned women were questioned. Women who responded to Zan News interviews mostly spoke about feelings of helplessness, deep sadness, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and lack of motivation to continue living. The findings show that these psychological problems began immediately after deportation and, with the passing of weeks, not only have not decreased but in most cases have even intensified. Gulsum, a 22-year-old girl in Nimroz who has returned to the country, says: “In Iran, despite the difficulties, I imagined a future for myself, but now I am in a house where I am not even allowed to go outside. Every day I think what is the point of this life, three times I decided to commit suicide but I did not succeed, ending life may be better than being imprisoned at home.” Among those who were interviewed, teenage and young girls are more exposed to psychological harm than others. Doctors in clinics in Herat and Farah also confirm that most of the visitors suffering from psychological problems are girls between 14 and 27 years old. According to them, these girls come to health centers with symptoms such as severe depression, insomnia, chronic anxiety, identity disorder, and suicidal thoughts. Dr. Zarmina, a psychologist in Herat, says: “The increase in these visitors is worrying. In the past three months, we have faced a wave of girls whose lives have completely collapsed after returning. They do not see a future for themselves because they have lost their school, work, and freedom.” According to the data of this research, the main reasons for the deterioration of the mental health of returned women are: Forced return without preparation to an unsafe and unstable country Lack of supportive, economic, and psychological facilities after return Restrictive policies of the Taliban that have severely limited women’s individual freedoms Marzia, a student who studied up to the tenth grade in Iran and now lives in Farah after forced deportation, tells Zan News: “In Iran, I was studying and had dreams for my future, but now I am not even allowed to leave the house. Only at night I think about how to end my life.” According to the data of this research, most of the interviewees have either had suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide, and fortunately were saved with the help of their family members or friends. Farida Mohammadi, a middle-aged woman who was deported from Iran and now lives in Herat with her disabled husband, says that she has attempted suicide four times but has not succeeded in ending her life. She adds: “I swear to God I tried to kill myself four times, I am tired of this life, with whatever I find I want to free myself from this life, because I have nothing, there is no work for me, my children ask for bread and food, my husband cannot work, where can I go, we have no shelter.” Zan News in this research has systematically collected data through face-to-face interviews, structured questionnaires, and experimental psychological analysis with the cooperation of specialist consultants. Main Statistics of the Research Out of 200 returned women: More than 60% (that is 165 individuals) directly spoke about experiencing psychological disorders. 18% (that is 36 individuals) have attempted self-harm or suicide at least once. 93% (that is 186 individuals) said that after returning, they have completely lost their sense of hope for the future. Despite warnings from specialists, so far no governmental or non-governmental institution has launched a comprehensive program of psychotherapy, counseling, or empowerment for this vulnerable group. This report is the voice of women who have been forgotten; women who, although they have crossed the border, live with the border of pain, loneliness, and anxiety. Women who breathe only for survival.

Photo: © UNICEF/South-Asia The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that in June of this year alone, 160,000 Afghan citizens returned to the country through the Islam Qala border crossing. This figure comes amid the ongoing wave of deportations of Afghan migrants from Iran and Pakistan. On Monday (30 June), the agency stated that with the growing number of returnees, there is an urgent need for access to safe drinking water, healthcare, and nutrition services. UNICEF also reported the expansion of child-friendly spaces at border areas. Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF’s Regional Director for South Asia, who recently visited the Islam Qala crossing, said, “I saw the urgent needs there firsthand.” He added that he met with a large number of returning women and children. Wijesekera stated, “It is hard to imagine the scale of changes they are facing in their lives and education; changes that are so different from how they lived in Iran.” UNICEF emphasized that in order to respond to the urgent needs of returnees from Iran and Pakistan, more than 64.4 million USD in funding is required. These funds would be used in areas such as child protection, nutrition, health, water and sanitation, shelter, non-food items, and livelihood support. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has also reported that over 230,000 Afghan migrants were deported from Iran in the month of June alone. International organizations have warned that returning women and children are among the most vulnerable groups in this process.