The Purple Saturday Movement, a women’s protest group, has claimed that the number of women imprisoned by the Taliban exceeds 2,000, significantly higher than the figures previously stated by the Taliban.
In a statement, the watchdog painted a grim picture of the situation, responding to the Taliban’s earlier assertion that there are only 500 women prisoners in all of Afghanistan’s prisons.
“A few days ago, the Taliban emphasized that there are only 500 women prisoners in all of Afghanistan’s prisons,” the statement said. “However, this source claims that the actual number is over 2,000, painting a grim picture of the situation.”
The movement quoted an anonymous source, due to the sensitivity of the information, who disclosed the data. “This significant discrepancy highlights the regime’s attempts to downplay the extent of women’s oppression,” the statement said.
The source also alleged that some women have become pregnant while in detention by Taliban members. “If proven, these allegations would indicate severe human rights violations behind prison walls. Cultural stigmas in Afghanistan further complicate the situation,” the statement noted.
The movement added that some families choose not to disclose the imprisonment of their female relatives, considering it a source of shame. “This silence causes the true extent of the issue to remain hidden, with many women suffering in silence without public acknowledgment or support,” the movement stated.
Over the past three years, the Taliban has detained hundreds of women, with some accused of raising anti-Taliban voices. The Taliban has also curtailed women’s access to education and work, as well as their freedom of movement.
The Purple Saturday Movement called on the international community not to turn a blind eye to these injustices.
