Zan News: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated in a recent report that the Taliban's ban on girls' education is putting an entire generation at risk in Afghanistan. Photo: UNICEF/Sayed Bidel OCHA: Taliban's Ban on Girls' Education Threatens a Generation in Afghanistan April 8, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has stated in a recent report that the Taliban's ban on girls' education is putting an entire generation at risk in Afghanistan. In its January 2025 report, OCHA emphasized that approximately 1.5 million girls have been deprived of education since the Taliban banned education beyond the sixth grade in March 2022. The report highlights that this ban has exposed girls to risks such as illiteracy, child labor, early marriage, and gender-based violence, further exacerbating the challenges faced by women in Afghanistan. Currently, nearly 9 million children, including 888,000 children with disabilities, are in urgent need of education. OCHA also referred to a verbal directive issued by the Taliban in January 2023, under which classrooms previously managed by international organizations were transferred to local institutions and provincial education offices. According to the organization, this decision has significantly reduced access to education, and by December 2024, only 1,315 out of 4,332 transferred classrooms remain active. As a result, nearly 52,000 children, mostly girls, have dropped out of school. The report also emphasized that poverty remains a significant barrier to education. According to 2024 assessments, 11% of families reported that due to financial difficulties, education was no longer a priority. Furthermore, in 2024, only 20% of 182,000 returnee children, mostly due to issues with documentation, financial problems, language barriers, cultural differences, and a lack of schools, educational spaces, and materials in their return areas, were able to access education. OCHA has also warned that the number of out-of-school children is likely to increase in 2025. To address Afghanistan's urgent educational needs, OCHA stated that $93.3 million is required in 2025 to support 831,000 children. These funds will be used for educational materials, teacher training, temporary classrooms, and literacy programs in remote areas.

Zan News: The South Asia branch of Amnesty International has condemned the recent ISIS attack on Hazara Shiites on the border of Daikundi and Ghor provinces, describing it as "cruel." Amnesty International: ISIS Attack on Hazara Shiites in Daikundi is Cruel September 15, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The South Asia branch of Amnesty International has condemned the recent ISIS attack on Hazara Shiites on the border of Daikundi and Ghor provinces, describing it as "cruel." In a statement released on Saturday night (September 14) on X, the organization said that this attack indicates an increase in "deliberate and planned" attacks against the Hazara community in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Amnesty International has stressed that the perpetrators of this crime must be brought to justice immediately and urgent measures must be taken to protect the Hazara community. The statement reads: "The killing of Hazara civilians is another horrific reminder of the cost of impunity in Afghanistan and the urgent need for the international community to establish an independent international mechanism to hold accountable for widespread human rights abuses and crimes under international law." These reactions came after ISIS militants attacked a vehicle carrying Hazara Shiites on the border of Daikundi and Ghor four days ago, killing 14 people and wounding six others. This incident has sparked strong domestic and international reactions.

Zan News - Logar: Four children have lost their lives following the explosion of a mortar shell in Logar province. Mortar Shell Explosion in Logar Kills Four Children July 6, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Logar: Four children have lost their lives following the explosion of a mortar shell in Logar province. Local sources report that this incident occurred on Friday afternoon (July 5) in the city of Pul-e Alam, the capital of Logar province. According to sources, the shell exploded while the children were playing with it. These children were between the ages of 7 and 13. The Taliban police command in Logar has also confirmed the explosion. Weapons remnants from the prolonged wars in Afghanistan occasionally claim the lives of citizens, especially children.

Zan News: The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that this year, 3.5 million children in Afghanistan are at risk of malnutrition. Photo: WFP/Mohammad Hasib Hazinyar World Food Programme: 3.5 Million Children in Afghanistan at Risk of Malnutrition April 14, 2025 Zan News: The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that this year, 3.5 million children in Afghanistan are at risk of malnutrition. In a report published on Sunday, April 14, the organization stated that Afghanistan is currently facing the most severe malnutrition crisis in its history. According to the report, 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in Afghanistan are also suffering from malnutrition. The WFP has identified the reduction in financial aid as one of the main causes of the growing malnutrition crisis in the country. This comes as the WFP had previously announced that around 15 million people in Afghanistan do not know where their next meal will come from.

Will women in tribal areas always remain confined to their homes, or will there come a time when they, like men, will be able to participate in all aspects of life without fear? In the past four decades, if a woman in a tribal society is oppressed or unjustly killed, her family usually tries to keep the matter hidden. They consider a woman's words as dishonorable if they leave the house, whereas before the Afghan Jihad, tribal women worked alongside men, bringing necessities from the market and even dancing with men during weddings and celebrations. Photo: flickr Is Working for Tribal Women a Sin? January 25, 2025 Mohammad Jawad, Pakistan Will women in tribal areas always remain confined to their homes, or will there come a time when they, like men, will be able to participate in all aspects of life without fear? In the past four decades, if a woman in a tribal society is oppressed or unjustly killed, her family usually tries to keep the matter hidden. They consider a woman's words as dishonorable if they leave the house, whereas before the Afghan Jihad, tribal women worked alongside men, bringing necessities from the market and even dancing with men during weddings and celebrations. After the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, religious factions locked women in their homes. Taking advantage of this opportunity, tribal leaders turned girls' schools into guest rooms. The war against terrorism further closed the doors of schools, and on a large scale, schools were bombed. A source who wished to remain anonymous told Zan News that the advantage of girls' schools was that they provided free accommodation and also several fourth-grade jobs, which helped cover household expenses. She added that the political agent had complete authority and could assign schools to whoever he wished. Many wealthy tribal leaders had received four or five schools, the buildings of which they used for personal gain, and they also personally collected the salaries of the fourth-grade employees. The situation has reached a point where even working for women is considered "forbidden." The hardliners of the Taliban have caused the most damage to girls' schools, because in their view, girls should neither receive an education nor leave the house. The schools built in tribal areas were already functioning as guest rooms, but the Taliban could not even accept the name "girls' school." The responsibility for keeping girls deprived of education was not solely the Taliban's, but also political agents under the FCR (Frontier Crimes Regulations) law, which granted them full authority. Their connections were limited to tribal leaders, who demanded the closure of girls' schools. They said that under the FCR (Frontier Crimes Regulations) law, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) had separate offices for the President and Governor, which also included girls' schools. By combining the budgets of both, it was larger than the budget of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but this money was spent on other purposes instead of the welfare of the common tribes. In this regard, a social activist from Waziristan, Pakistan, says that women in tribal areas have not yet gained independence, and strict social restrictions prevent them from working or having jobs. Some people even feel embarrassed to mention their mother or sister's name, and educated individuals also encourage women to stay only within their homes. Fatima, another woman from the remote areas of Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has faced her family's strict customs and restrictions. Fatima said, "I received an education and participated not only in the development of my family but also my community. However, my family did not allow me to work. They believed that women should only engage in household chores, and stepping into the outside world was not suitable for them." These traditional thoughts have created obstacles for Fatima in pursuing her dreams. In Pakistan, an Afghan woman from Afghanistan, whose assumed name is Shaista, says that when the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, she was working in a factory, but with the Taliban's rise to power, she was not allowed to continue working. In light of this situation, she migrated to Pakistan to continue her life, but even here, she has faced numerous challenges. She said, "When we came to Pakistan, we had high hopes that we would find a better life, but unfortunately, we are still without legal documents, which has caused us to face various problems." She added that finding any kind of job here has become very difficult. The number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is in the millions, and most of them face issues related to employment and legal status. The lives of Afghan women became even more challenging when the Taliban government imposed bans on education and other important rights for girls and women. Shaista and other women like her say that they are forced to continuously struggle for a better future for their families.

Zan News - Kunar: A Taliban fighter in Kunar province was killed after kidnapping a woman. Social Media Taliban Fighter Killed in Kunar After Kidnapping a Woman July 30, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Kunar: A Taliban fighter in Kunar province was killed after kidnapping a woman. Local sources in Kunar told the media that the incident occurred on Sunday (28 July) in the center of the province. According to the sources, the Taliban fighter named "Mahmood" intended to marry the wife of a resident of Asadabad, Kunar. Sources added that this Taliban fighter initially shot the woman's husband and then tried to register a case in the Kunar court to marry the woman. Sources state that the Taliban fighter was shot and killed by the woman's brother-in-law in front of the Kunar court. So far, the Taliban in Kunar have not commented on the incident. It is worth noting that since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, commanders and fighters of this group have been repeatedly accused of seizing and sexually assaulting women.

Zan News - Herat: The three-day "Aalist Afghanist" exhibition has opened for the second time in Herat province with the participation of hundreds of female participants. "Aalist Afghanist" Exhibition Opens in Herat with Hundreds of Female Participants June 10, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Herat: The three-day "Aalist Afghanist" exhibition has opened for the second time in Herat province with the participation of hundreds of female participants. The exhibition opened on Saturday, June 8th, at the "Asman Hall" in Herat and is attended by female entrepreneurs from various provinces of Afghanistan to market and sell their domestic products. In this exhibition, handicrafts of women are displayed in 65 booths. A variety of products, including clothing, food, detergents, decorative items, pottery, hand-woven carpets, and paintings are on display at the exhibition. Party dresses have been among the most visited booths so far. Hafiza Amiri, the organizer of the exhibition, said that the purpose of holding it is to support domestic production and create job opportunities for women. She stated: "We want to introduce our people to the domestic products of their country. So that one day both the producer and the consumer will be our dear people." Female entrepreneurs from the provinces of Badakhshan, Balkh, Jalalabad, Laghman, and Kandahar have also participated in the exhibition and have displayed various types of cosmetics and women's jewelry. Female entrepreneurs consider participation in such exhibitions an opportunity to sell their valuable and rare products, but they complain about the lack of access to global markets and low sales. Some visitors also found such exhibitions useful and stated that at a time when Afghan women are deprived of the right to work and education, these exhibitions provide them with the opportunity to grow and flourish. One of the visitors told the media that women, by participating in small businesses, are trying to fight against restrictions and house arrest. This comes as the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on girls and women over the past two years. Currently, girls and women are deprived of going to school and university, and these Taliban actions have caused millions of girls to be out of school. Women and girls are also banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a mahram, working in domestic and international NGOs and even UN offices in Afghanistan.

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: 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.