Afghan Women Demand The Release Of Activists From Taliban Detention

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By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi
October 16, 2023

In separate protests in Afghanistan and Germany, Afghan women rights activists have demanded the Taliban release two activists detained last month under unknown circumstances.

Nearly a dozen women activists in the northeastern province of Takhar on October 15 called on the Taliban to release women’s rights activists Neda Parwani and Zholya Parsi, whose detention on September 19 prompted a rebuke of the Taliban rulers by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for a spate of “arbitrary arrests and detentions.”

“We demand their release and [call on the international community] to recognize [the Taliban’s policies toward women] as gender apartheid,” said Parisa Mubarez, one of the activists in Takhar.

In addition to Parwani and Parsi’s arrests, reports suggest the Taliban has also detained Parsi’s son and husband.

They are among the hundreds of Afghan women detained by the Taliban since it returned to power in the wake of the final withdrawal of the U.S.-led international troops in August 2021.

Since then, the hard-line Islamist group has banned women from education, employment, and public life with few exceptions. These policies are rooted in the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Women opposing or protesting the Taliban’s restrictive policies have faced its wrath.

“There is no information about whether these detained activists have access to health care and legal services,” Monse Mubarez, another of the women’s rights activists, told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi on October 15.

“We are more worried about Zholya because even the place of her detention is unknown,” she added.

Meanwhile, a hunger strike by Tamana Zaryab Paryani and other Afghan activists entered its 17th day in the German city of Cologne.

The group on October 15 also demanded the release of Afghan activists and pleaded with the international community to declare the Taliban’s policies as gender apartheid.

“As a last resort, we are fighting through this sit-in protest,” said Zarmina Paryani, a sister of Tamana Zaryab Paryani. “This is a fight against the silence of human rights organizations.”

Paryani launched a similar protest last month, which garnered some support from activists.

In the past two years, the Taliban has detained hundreds of women’s rights activists, human rights campaigners, academics, and journalists.

In addition to Parwani and Zholya, the Taliban is currently holding journalist Morteza Behbodhi, Rasul Parsi, an academic, and education activist Matiullah Wesa.

On September 29, UNAMA expressed concern over the arrests and detentions of other individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and opinion.

“Ongoing arrests and detentions of individuals simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and opinion is deeply troubling and contrary to Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations,” UNAMA said.

Written by Abubakar Siddique based on reporting by RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

Afghanistan National Football Team expels coach ahead of crucial Mongolia match

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Khaama: As reported, the Afghanistan national football team has taken the surprising step of expelling their coach, Abdullah Al-Mutairi, while they are in the midst of preparations for a crucial match against Mongolia, scheduled to kick off in just a few hours. Farshad Noor, the team captain, Faisal Shaiq, and Noor Hussain claim that most national team players do not accept the coach, Abdullah Al-Mutairi, as the national team’s head coach. They do not want him to sit on the team’s bench and lead them in tomorrow’s crucial match. Click here to read more (external link).

Other Sports News

Powerful Quakes Shake Calamity-Hit Western Afghanistan

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Ayaz Gul
VOA News
October 15, 2023

ISLAMABAD — A pair of strong earthquakes shook western Afghanistan on Sunday, disrupting the power supply to Herat province, which was already reeling from a week of devastating quakes.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.3 and 5.5 quakes struck 20 minutes apart early morning, with their epicenters located outside Herat.

Authorities said surrounding provinces Badghis and Farah were also jolted by Sunday’s tremors, reporting the death of at least two people and more than 100 were brought to the main hospital in Herat. Residents and local officials confirmed that power was briefly cut off throughout province following the first quake.

The western Afghan region, bordering Iran, has experienced several major earthquakes and aftershocks since Oct. 7, when a magnitude 6.3 quake first rattled Herat.

The United Nations said in its latest situation report Saturday that the earlier earthquakes, one of the deadliest disasters to hit Afghanistan in decades, had destroyed several villages entirely, killing nearly 1,400 people, more than half of them women and girls, and injuring many more.

“Numerous aftershocks persisted until October 14, leaving the local population in a persistent state of anxiety and fear,” the report said. It added that dust storms in several quake-hit Herat districts Thursday destroyed tents that temporarily sheltered thousands of survivors. The World Health Organization and other agencies have since resupplied tents.

Afghanistan’s Taliban government significantly lowered its official death toll from more than 2,000 to “over 1,000,” Thursday, blaming the remoteness of quake-hit areas for the initial higher casualty estimates.

UNICEF has said that more than 90% of those reported killed were women and children. Nearly 3,200 families, or at least 19,000 individuals, have been directly affected across the disaster zone.

The U.N. refugee agency Friday launched a $14.4 million humanitarian appeal to provide shelters, heaters, and warm clothes to survivors sleeping in the open ahead of the approaching harsh winter.

Earlier this week, UNICEF appealed for $20 million to deliver emergency and trauma care for newborns and children and repair schools and health care facilities in quake-affected areas.

“Many families have lost their homes and all their possessions. With winter approaching, these families are now in a more acute state of need, lacking warm clothes, shelter, cooking equipment, and access to clean water,” said Siddig Ibrahim, UNICEF’s chief field officer for western Afghanistan.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has announced $12 million in immediate humanitarian aid to assist Afghan victims.

Afghan officials say the country’s immediate neighbors and regional countries, including China, Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, have already dispatched relief aid and pledged cash donations.

The natural calamity has compounded an already dire humanitarian crisis in the South Asian nation stemming from years of war and prolonged drought in one of the world’s poorest and hungriest countries.

World Cup: Afghanistan stun England in major upset win

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Ariana: Afghanistan registered a stunning 69-run win over England in the first major upset of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Afghanistan bundled England out for 215 to script just their second Cricket World Cup win, eight years since their last against Scotland in Australia. This time, it was the defending champions at the receiving end. Click here to read more (external link).

ICC World Cup: Afghanistan only get it ’70-80%’ right, says Trott

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Ariana: Afghanistan coach Jonathan Trott admitted Saturday that his team “get it 70-80% right” but need to find an extra gear quickly if they are to end a demoralizing run of 14 successive World Cup defeats. Afghanistan have so far suffered convincing losses to Bangladesh and India at this 10-nation tournament. Click here to read more (external link).