Afghanistan: UN concern after the arrest of two new feminist activists
Afghan women demonstrate in Kabul in August 2021 against violations of their rights by the Taliban (illustration image).
AFP - SAJJAD HUSSAIN
Text by: RFI Follow
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The United Nations has publicly called on the Taliban to provide information regarding the alleged arrest of two feminist activists in Afghanistan, two weeks after the disappearance of two protesters critical of Islamic fundamentalists.
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This Thursday evening, February 3, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Manua) requested on Twitter "
urgent information
" from the Ministry of the Interior, "
about the latest arrests by the Taliban of two new feminist activists reported in the last 24 hours
”. The United Nations "
repeats its call to release all 'disappeared' feminist activists, as well as their relatives
", added the institution. “
These unjust arrests must stop. If the Taliban seek the recognition of the Afghan people and that of the world, they must respect the human rights of Afghans - especially those of women - including freedom of expression.
U.S. envoy for Afghan women's rights Rina Amiri tweeted on Friday.
“
The Taliban found her and arrested her
”
La Manua did not reveal the names of the two activists, but according to another opponent contacted by AFP, Zahra Mohammadi and Mursal Ayar were arrested by the Taliban this week.
Zahra is “
a dentist and worked in a clinic.
She was arrested, as well as her father
, ”explained this activist, requesting anonymity.
Mursal was arrested on Wednesday after one of her colleagues asked her for his address to come and pay her salary, she added.
“
That's how she was framed.
The Taliban found her and arrested her
, ”detailed this activist.
These arrests come two weeks after the disappearance of two other activists, Tamana Zaryabi Paryani and Parwana Ibrahimkhel, a few days after their participation in a demonstration in Kabul in favor of women's rights.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, expressed concern on Tuesday about their fate and that of four members of their family who disappeared with them.
Islamist fundamentalists claim to have modernized
The Taliban deny any involvement in their disappearance and say they have opened an investigation.
The Islamist fundamentalists claim to have modernized since their last reign over Afghanistan, from 1996 to 2001. But they were quick to oust teenage girls from many public colleges and high schools, to impose on women the accompaniment of a man of their immediate family during long journeys, and to exclude them from most government jobs.
Faced with the deep humanitarian crisis affecting Afghanistan, Western diplomats have made respect for human rights a prerequisite for a possible return of international aid, which represented around 75% of the Afghan budget before the advent of the Taliban.
(
with AFP
)
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Also to listen: In Afghanistan, worrying disappearances of women activists
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Afghanistan
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