Conflicts & War

UN welcomes release of four Afghan female activists

Kabul, Feb 12 (EFE).- The UN Mission in Afghanistan on Saturday welcomed the release of four female activists who had been allegedly detained by the Taliban.

The activists, Tamana Paryani, Parwana Ibrahimkhail, Mursal Ayar and Zahra Mohammadi, are part of a Kabul protest movement fighting for women’s rights.

“The social activists are released which were arrested by the Taliban government and returned to their homes,” journalist and human rights defender Fauzia Wahdat told Efe.

Ibrahimkhail, who disappeared some 20 days ago, told Afghan broadcaster Tolo News that she had been detained by the Taliban. She added that she was in good health.

Ayar and Mohammadi disappeared on February 3.

On February 7, the Taliban government denied its involvement in the arrests of the four activists, amid growing concern over their whereabouts.

UNAMA welcomed the women’s release, having conveyed to the Taliban’s interim foreign minister the world’s outrage at their disappearance.

“The UN welcomes the encouraging reports that the four ‘disappeared’ Afghan women activists, some missing for weeks, are being enabled to return home. Their well-being and safety is of paramount concern. UNAMA will continue its efforts to support the rights of all Afghans,” the organization tweeted.

Two international journalists and several Afghan citizens who collaborated with the UN Refugee Agency and who had been detained in Kabul were also released Saturday.

Women have experienced a setback in their rights since the Taliban came to power in mid-August, with many of them unable to return to their jobs and young girls being barred from secondary school.EFE

lk-daa/ch

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