Several women’s rights movements launched a campaign on Sunday, demanding the “immediate release” of activists Neda Parwani, Zholia Parsi, and Matiullah Wesa, who are currently in Taliban custody. These movements, which also vehemently oppose the Taliban’s restrictions on media and women’s rights, have raised grave concerns about the violence inflicted on detainees in Taliban prisons.
Matiullah Wesa, the founder of PenPath, was arrested in March 2023. His family claims that the Taliban provided neither reasons for his arrest nor information regarding his well-being.
Neda Parwani, her four-year-old child, and her husband were arrested by the Taliban on September 19 from their home in Khair Khana, Kabul. This was followed by the arrest of Zholia Parsi and her 21-year-old son on September 27 from Qala-e-Fatullah in Kabul.
Taranom Saeedi, the head of Musharikat Siasi Zanan and one of the campaign organizers, stressed the importance of not forgetting the detained activists. She stated, “We are pleading for the release of political prisoners, including Zholia Parsi, Neda Parwani, and Matiullah Wesa.”
A number of human rights and women’s rights activists who had previously been detained by the Taliban have spoken out about the horrific torture and violence inflicted by the Taliban members in the prisons.
The campaign’s organizers also expressed deep concerns about the mistreatment of activists held in Taliban prisons. Tahira Naseri, the founder of Junbish Zanan Ba Soi Azadi, described the prisons as places where unimaginable violence can occur. She added, “The suppressive Taliban group is fearful of those who support freedom.”
The detention of these activists has sparked strong reactions from human rights organizations, including the United Nations Assistant Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The campaign is also calling on international human rights organizations to take concrete actions.
Fatima Itimadi, a member of Junbish Zanan Adalat Khwah-e Afghanistan, emphasized their determination to secure the release of the detained activists. She stated, “We are calling for the immediate release of human and civil rights activists from Taliban prisons. We urge the UN and human rights organizations to take practical steps to secure the release of Parsi and Parwani.”
This development coincides with Tamana Zariab Paryani’s sit-in held in Germany, now in its 24th day, drawing global attention to the oppressive treatment of women by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Paryani is a human rights activist who has organized numerous protests against the Taliban’s restrictions on female education and work in Afghanistan. She has pledged to continue her advocacy for women’s rights and will reorganize protests on October 28.
With the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, women have been deprived of access to education, employment, and social activities. The Taliban has also imprisoned activists who were advocating for human and educational rights.
