NIKKEI Asia: Afghan women say they are afraid to leave their homes, after the Taliban began intensifying its wide-ranging crackdown on hijab-wearing and making arrests across the country at the start of the year. Kabul resident Farkhunda, 27, told Nikkei Asia that since she and four others were arrested, her sister has been too scared to even attend classes at a religious seminary. “As you know, there is a complete ban on girls’ education in schools and universities and one of my sisters was attending a religious seminary. After our arrest, she refused to go there too,” Farkhunda said. Click here to read more (external link).