Zan News: The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) hosted a special meeting in Vienna focused on education and political participation of Afghan women. Participants at the meeting criticized the Taliban's severe restrictions on women and called for practical actions to support Afghan women and girls. Photo: Micky Kroell/OSCE OSCE: Practical Steps Must Be Taken to Support Afghan Women April 8, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) hosted a special meeting in Vienna focused on education and political participation of Afghan women. Participants at the meeting criticized the Taliban's severe restrictions on women and called for practical actions to support Afghan women and girls. The meeting was organized at the initiative of Malta’s Permanent Mission to the UN, in collaboration with the Afghan Embassy and Permanent Mission. Féridun Sinirlioğlu, Secretary General of the OSCE, emphasized in his speech that member states must take concrete and serious steps to ensure the safety and full participation of Afghan women in all aspects of society. He also called for financial support for special initiatives for Afghan women and the facilitation of visa issuance for those involved in OSCE educational programs. He stated: "Only through such support can we ensure that Afghan women continue to access education and transformational resources." Participants at the meeting also underscored the importance of education for women and girls in Afghanistan and their key role in the country's political structure. They described girls’ education as a fundamental tool for empowerment and a pathway toward sustainable peace. Veronique Pepin-Halle, Canada’s representative to the UN, also spoke about the difficult situation of Afghan women, saying: "Afghan women and girls are calling for stronger and more effective action. We cannot remain silent or indifferent to their plight. They have shown extraordinary courage, and we have a duty to stand by them." She added: "Positive transformation requires long-term planning and may take a generation; but collapse can happen in just a few days." This is despite the fact that with the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan, women and girls in the country have been deprived of their rights to education, work, and social participation.

Zan News: Sima Bahous, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, stated in a Security Council meeting that millions of Afghan girls and women, deprived of their right to education, are "imprisoned in their homes." Photo: United States Institute of Peace Sima Bahous: Millions of Women and Girls in Afghanistan are "Imprisoned in Their Homes" October 26, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Sima Bahous, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, stated in a Security Council meeting that millions of Afghan girls and women, deprived of their right to education, are "imprisoned in their homes." Bahous added, "We remember the fear of millions of Afghan women and girls who have been silenced, deprived of education, future, and voice, and how they are stifled in silence." She highlighted that girls deprived of formal education have turned to home-based schooling. In addition to calling for the protection of vulnerable women globally, she referred to the situation of women in Gaza, noting that women there are awaiting death, daily threatened by Israeli airstrikes and starvation. This UN official also praised the European Court’s decision to accept asylum requests from Afghan women in European countries based on their nationality and gender. Bahous has previously stressed that the international community must use all available tools to pressure the Taliban. The Executive Director of UN Women emphasizes the need to ensure the rights of Afghan women and girls, while the Taliban have closed schools and universities to girls for the past three years, depriving millions of female students of education.

While women and girls in Afghanistan are deprived of their most basic human rights under the stringent Taliban laws, Zakia Khudadadi, a para-taekwondo athlete, has brought honor by winning Afghanistan's first Paralympic medal. This historic achievement is not only a significant milestone for the country’s sports but also a symbol of the strength and resilience of Afghan women. Photo: Reuters Zakia Khudadadi's Historic Victory: Afghanistan's First Paralympic Medal and a Symbol of Women's Resistanc August 31, 2024 Zan News While women and girls in Afghanistan are deprived of their most basic human rights under the stringent Taliban laws, Zakia Khudadadi, a para-taekwondo athlete, has brought honor by winning Afghanistan's first Paralympic medal. This historic achievement is not only a significant milestone for the country’s sports but also a symbol of the strength and resilience of Afghan women. Zakia Khudadadi, a para-taekwondo athlete from Afghanistan and a member of the refugee team, won a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics on Thursday (August 29). She is the first Afghan athlete to win a medal in the history of the Paralympics. Prior to her achievement, four other Afghan athletes had not won any medals in these games. Khudadadi advanced to the bronze medal match by defeating competitors from Cuba, Uzbekistan, and Turkey. In the final match, her Moroccan opponent withdrew due to injury, and Khudadadi secured her first Paralympic medal. This victory is not only Khudadadi’s first Paralympic medal but also the first medal for Afghanistan and the refugee team in these competitions. Khudadadi had also carried the Olympic torch at the opening of the 2024 Paris Games. At that time, she expressed her excitement and commitment to becoming the first Afghan woman to win a medal in the event. Khudadadi stated that she was representing millions of refugees at the Paralympics and aimed to show that people with disabilities and refugees are symbols of peace, acceptance, friendship, and courage. Previously, Khudadadi participated in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and was the flag-bearer for Afghanistan at the closing ceremony. She was also crowned the European Para-Taekwondo Champion in 2023. After the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, Khudadadi fled the country and sought asylum in France. Following a request from the international community, she was allowed to compete for her country. After her victory at the 2024 Paralympics, Khudadadi emphasized that the medal "belongs to all the women of Afghanistan and refugees around the world." And while she shines as a woman in global sports stage, the Taliban have recently declared women's voices to be "awrah" and imposed a mandatory full cover on them. The bronze medal win by Zakia Khudadadi at the Paris 2024 Paralympics has garnered extensive national and international reactions. Many Afghan citizens, including political leaders and cultural figures, have recognized this achievement as a testament to the capability and potential of Afghan women. Farhad Darya, a renowned singer, shared a photo of Khudadadi on his Facebook page, writing: "Zakia Khudadadi, by winning the bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics, has become the voice of the suffering of Afghan women and girls." The National Resistance Front of Afghanistan described Khudadadi’s victory as "a sign of the perseverance of women against the prevailing terror and ignorance." The political office of this front stated that "Zakia Khudadadi’s victory proves that Afghan women are never to be destroyed." Nilofar Langar, a journalist, wrote: "You are not ‘awrah’. Zakia Khudadadi won the bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics. She is the true face of Afghan women—face of suffering, pain, struggle, and invincibility." Sohraab Seerat, a poet, wrote: "Zakia Khudadadi is a manifestation of struggle, resilience, and beautiful history-making. She is not only the first woman in our country’s history to win a medal in an international sport but also the first medalist for the refugee team in the Paralympics. She has made all refugees around the world proud with the refugee flag." Ali Nazari, a journalist, reacted to Khudadadi’s bronze medal win by stating on his Facebook page: "Now Zakia has won a medal, but in her own country, there is neither a government that considers her equal to men, nor rights granted to her, nor permission to play sports. Khudadadi now has no right to travel to her homeland and celebrate with her people. In her country, women don’t even have the right to sit in the shade of a tree. Women’s voices in Zakia’s country are deemed ‘awrah’." The Paralympic Games described Khudadadi's bronze medal as a "historic victory." The organization stated: "Zakia Khudadadi has won the first Paralympic medal for the refugee team with a bronze in taekwondo." The UN High Commissioner for Refugees congratulated Khudadadi and described her achievement as "a demonstration of the incredible power of sport in changing lives." Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, described Khudadadi's victory as "exciting" and said: "Such a message brings hope and strength to millions of refugee women." Human Rights Watch described this win as historic for Afghan women. The organization noted that Khudadadi's victory came just days after the Taliban announced a "new law" against women. Recently, the Taliban has signed a new "commanding good and forbidding wrong" law, which regards women's voices, faces, bodies, and appearances in public places as "awrah." The significance of this victory for Afghan women highlights Zakia Khudadadi's achievement as a strong message of resistance and perseverance amidst the Taliban's continued repressive laws against women. This victory is not only a sports achievement but also a symbol of the struggle for women's rights.

Zan News: The representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan, Tajudeen Oyewale, has announced that 213 malnourished children were treated in Afghanistan in January of this year. Photo: TajudeenOyewale/X UNICEF: 213 Malnourished Children Treated in Afghanistan February 9, 2025 Zan News Zan News: The representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan, Tajudeen Oyewale, has announced that 213 malnourished children were treated in Afghanistan in January of this year. According to him, all these children were under the age of five, and their treatment was carried out in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank. Oyewale shared this news in a post on his X page on Saturday (February 8), along with a photo from his visit to Helmand Province and a refugee camp. In the post, he emphasized, "Every child deserves a healthy life." This comes as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had previously warned that the number of malnourished children in Afghanistan is expected to reach 3.5 million by 2025.

Zan News - Panjshir: Local sources in Panjshir report that a middle-aged woman who suffered a stroke last year after a nighttime Taliban raid on her home has died. Death of a Middle-Aged Woman in Panjshir Due to Stroke Caused by Taliban Raid June 16, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Panjshir: Local sources in Panjshir report that a middle-aged woman who suffered a stroke last year after a nighttime Taliban raid on her home has died. The sources confirmed on Saturday (June 15) that the woman died last week in the village of Anaba, Anaba district. According to the sources, around 100 Taliban fighters raided her home at night on June 10 of last year to arrest the woman's two sons. Since then, the woman had been bedridden due to a stroke. Local sources also add that the Taliban fighters brutally arrested the woman's two sons at the time, and one of their bladders was destroyed under Taliban torture. Yahya Anabi, a religious scholar in Panjshir, also confirmed the news. He said at the woman's funeral: "This woman suffered a stroke due to the Taliban's raid on her home at 2 AM. and whoever brought this state to this woman, may God bring the same state to his house." The Taliban has not yet commented on the matter. This comes as the Taliban, with the deployment of thousands of fighters to Panjshir over the past year, has consistently arrested, imprisoned, and tortured residents of the province.

Zan News: Three Afghan schoolgirls in the state of Texas, USA, were targeted in a group attack by other students. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the incident as a violation of human rights and has called for immediate action from educational authorities. Photo: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton Group Attack on Three Afghan Schoolgirls in Texas April 9, 2025 Zan News Zan News: Three Afghan schoolgirls in the state of Texas, USA, were targeted in a group attack by other students. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the incident as a violation of human rights and has called for immediate action from educational authorities. According to CAIR, the attack occurred on Monday (March 3) at "Pell River" middle school in Houston. The three students were reportedly sitting in the cafeteria during lunch when approximately 20 other students launched an attack on them. During the assault, the attackers surrounded the girls and severely beat them. Sources say that a pencil was also used as a weapon in the attack. One of the girls was hospitalized for four days due to the severity of her injuries and is now wearing a neck brace. She continues to struggle with both physical and psychological trauma. The families of the Afghan students stated that their children were targeted because of their hijabs and ethnic background. They believe that the incident was rooted in racial prejudice and hostility. However, the school administration has refused to respond to the families and has even declined to transfer the students to a safe location. CAIR has reported that in one case, after the transfer of one student was approved, the decision was reversed without any explanation. William White, head of CAIR in Houston, called the situation unacceptable, stating: "These students have not only been the victims of violence, but the educational system has failed to protect them." He added that these students came to the USA with hopes for safety, but their human rights have now been violated. The organization has urged the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to transfer the three students to a safe place immediately, conduct an independent investigation into the incident, and hold the perpetrators accountable. Additionally, CAIR has called for the provision of psychological services for the victims and the creation of policies to combat discrimination and violence in schools. This incident comes at a time when, according to CAIR, Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims in the United States are at their highest levels. In response to such incidents, CAIR has provided special guidance for Muslim students and their families to help them defend themselves against discrimination and harassment in schools.

Zan News: The Spontaneous Movement of Fighting Women of Afghanistan, on the eve of the third anniversary of Taliban rule, has issued a statement once again protesting against the crimes of this group and supporting the statement of Nancy Mace, a Republican representative in the US House of Representatives, recognizing the Taliban as a "terrorist government." Sent to Zan TV Protesting Women: Taliban are Murderers of Millions, We Support Nancy Mace's Statement July 29, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Spontaneous Movement of Fighting Women of Afghanistan, on the eve of the third anniversary of Taliban rule, has issued a statement once again protesting against the crimes of this group and supporting the statement of Nancy Mace, a Republican representative in the US House of Representatives, recognizing the Taliban as a "terrorist government." In this statement today, Monday (July 29), these protesters emphasized that "the Taliban are the murderers of millions of Afghans and, with their coming to power in Afghanistan, they have implemented terrorist and inhumane programs." The statement says that "gender apartheid, discrimination and ethnic and linguistic prejudices, torture and oppression of people, especially women, forced marriages of girls and women below the age of consent, murder and looting of people's property, bullying and forced displacement are the actions of the Taliban." These protesters have stated in this statement that they "hate the Taliban terrorist government and will fight against it until their last breath." This statement comes as Nancy Mace, a representative from South Carolina, recently introduced a draft bill to the US House of Representatives that would require the US State Department to designate the Taliban as a "terrorist" group and prohibit government agencies from providing financial support to Taliban government programs. She said: "Our bill ensures that America will never recognize the terrorist Taliban regime. The Taliban are terrorists, plain and simple."

Zan News: The Purple Saturdays Movement has strongly condemned the Taliban's invitation to the third Doha conference in a statement, calling for increased public pressure on the United Nations to prevent the Taliban and terrorists from attending the meeting. Purple Saturdays Movement Strongly Condemns Taliban's Invitation to Doha Conference June 1, 2024 Zan News Zan News: The Purple Saturdays Movement has strongly condemned the Taliban's invitation to the third Doha conference in a statement, calling for increased public pressure on the United Nations to prevent the Taliban and terrorists from attending the meeting. The statement said that despite the efforts of protest movements and the Purple Saturdays Movement over the past three years to prevent the normalization of the Taliban's presence at global meetings, the United Nations has once again invited the group, which has been recognized as a "human rights violator, war criminal and terrorist group," to the Doha conference. The Purple Saturdays Movement called the UN's action a disregard for human rights and women's rights, and stressed that the organization, instead of prosecuting Taliban leaders for their crimes, is indirectly supporting the group by inviting them to the Doha conference. The movement also referred to the Taliban's absence from the second Doha conference due to "non-acceptance of their demands" and the UN Secretary-General's statements that accepting the Taliban's demands would mean recognizing the group, and asked the UN under what conditions and demands it has encouraged the Taliban to attend the third Doha conference. Expressing concern about efforts to legitimize the Taliban's rule, the Purple Saturdays Movement stressed that the Afghan people should not expect the international community and the United Nations to remain indifferent to the Taliban's crimes. The movement called on all protest movements, young people, women, elites, intellectuals and committed politicians in Afghanistan to stand together against the Taliban in a "thought coalition" and increase public pressure on the United Nations to prevent the Taliban from attending the Doha conference. The Purple Saturdays Movement also called for an end to appeasement, whitewashing and normalization of the Taliban's presence at global meetings and efforts to legitimize the group's rule in Afghanistan. The movement called on the Afghan people, especially women and members of civil society, to fight the Taliban instead of trying to attend such meetings and strive for justice and an end to tyranny in Afghanistan. In conclusion, the Purple Saturdays Movement, emphasizing that the Taliban have not been "flexible and adaptable" in the past three years, called on all anti-Taliban people's movements to support an alternative to the group's rule, which is a "legitimate, democratic and decentralized system and government."

Zan News - Laghman: Three family members were killed and four others injured in the collapse of a house wall in Mehtarlam, the capital of Laghman province. House Wall Collapse in Laghman Kills Three Family Members, Including a Woman and a Girl May 29, 2024 Zan News Zan News - Laghman: Three family members were killed and four others injured in the collapse of a house wall in Mehtarlam, the capital of Laghman province. According to Yunus Yusufzai, the Taliban's Laghman security command spokesman, the incident occurred at 12:30 AM last night, Tuesday, May 28th, in the Yunus Chaharrahe area. Yusufzai said that the wall of a house belonging to a man named Abdul Basir collapsed, killing him, his wife, and their daughter. Four other people were also seriously injured in the incident and were taken to the hospital. Their condition is reported to be serious. The Taliban's Laghman security command spokesman did not say what caused the wall to collapse. However, a local resident said that strong winds may have been the cause of the incident. It is worth noting that similar incidents in other provinces occasionally claim the lives of citizens. This spring, heavy rains and devastating floods also caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure in Afghanistan and claimed the lives of a large number of people.

Zan News: Local sources in Nangarhar have reported that Khalid Hanafi, the head of the Taliban's Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, did not allow journalists to take photos or cover his recent visit to this province. Photo: Google Search Khalid Hanafi Did Not Allow Journalists to Take Photos During His Trip to Nangarhar October 21, 2024 Zan News Zan News: Local sources in Nangarhar have reported that Khalid Hanafi, the head of the Taliban's Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, did not allow journalists to take photos or cover his recent visit to this province. According to sources, Hanafi traveled to Nangarhar on Sunday (October 20) to meet with local Taliban officials. Sources say that Hanafi did not even allow the media office of the Taliban governor in Nangarhar provide photographic coverage of his meeting with local officials of this group. These actions occur at a time when the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on media and journalists in Afghanistan over the past three years. However, these restrictions have intensified in recent days. Three days ago, Nadim Mohammad, the head of the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education, also did not allow journalists to take photos or cover his visit to Khost province.