Disappearance of Afghan women activists triggers protest, concern

Kabul, Feb 10 (EFE).- A group of Afghan women on Thursday protested in Kabul in support of women’s rights amid concern over the disappearance of four other activists, who are feared to have been arrested by the Taliban government.

The disappearance of the activists, who have been missing for days and even weeks after their alleged arrest by the Islamist regime, shows the risks being faced by those who are fighting for their rights in the country.

“The protest was aimed at telling the Taliban and international community that we are not linked with any political party or ethnic group, we only want our rights”, Zuolia Parsi, one of the organizers of the protest, told EFE.

Like most of the women’s protests carried out in recent months, the gathering took place behind closed doors in a secluded place to try and prevent a crackdown by the Taliban.

The activists’ disappearance has also been met with concern by the international community.

The United Nations special envoy for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, has met several representatives of the Taliban government to ask for information about them.

“Global outrage over the fate of missing Afghan women activists conveyed today to Taliban de-facto foreign affairs ministry Amir Khan Muttaqi. He assured Deobra Lyons, UN, of efforts to resolve the issue,” the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan tweeted.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also urged the Taliban government to ensure that the women return to their homes.

“I am increasingly concerned about the well-being of missing women activists in Afghanistan. Several have ‘disappeared,’ some not heard from in weeks. I strongly urge the Taliban to ensure their safety so that they can return home,” he tweeted.

The four activists are Tamana Paryani, Parwana Ibrahimkhali, Mursal Ayar and Zahra Mohammadi, with the last two allegedly detained on Feb. 3, after attending a protest to demand educational and labor rights for women.

Mohammadi’s father said on social media that he had had a conservation with his daughter, with the latter saying that she was in a Taliban prison, although the government has denied its involvement in the disappearances. EFE

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