Afghan Girls’ Education Activist Released From Taliban Detention
Matiullah Wesa, an Afghan activist for girls' education, was released from Taliban custody after 215 days, on Thursday.
In an interview with Afghanistan International, Attaullah Wesa, the brother of Matiullah Wesa, confirmed the news of the release of the activist.
On March 23, the Taliban intelligence arrested Wesa, the head of the Pen Path Organisation in Kabul. Wesa was arrested by the Taliban after traveling to Europe and meeting European officials.
After widespread international reactions, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson at the time claimed that Wesa was engaged in activism without informing the Taliban regime. Mujahid claimed that Wesa secretly and openly communicated with foreigners and received orders from them for his activities.
Mutiullah Wesa and Attaullah Wesa, two brothers from Kandahar, have been working for the opening of girls' schools in southern Afghanistan for more than ten years. After the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, and the closure of girls' schools throughout Afghanistan, Wesa expanded his activities and tried to open girls' schools all over the country.
After the Taliban banned girls' education, he supported the campaign for girls to return to school.
The detention of Wesa provoked widespread international reactions and a large number of human rights defenders and international officials demanded his release.
