Detention And Torture of Women Protesters Persist in Afghanistan, Reports HRW
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported ongoing incidents of the Taliban detaining, threatening, and torturing female protesters in Afghanistan.
The organisation noted that many families are holding onto the hope that these activists will either be released or face reduced harassment while in custody.
Heather Barr, Associate Director at HRW, and Sahar Fetrat, a HRW researcher, highlighted on Thursday the increasing number of protesting women in Taliban detention centres. They pointed out that the families of these women, as well as the public, are largely kept in the dark about their conditions.
Barr and Fetrat raised particular concerns about the continued detention and wellbeing of Zhulia Parsi, Neda Parwani, Manizha Sediqi, and Parisa Azada in Taliban prisons. They further revealed that the Taliban's crackdown extends beyond protesters, targeting individuals running underground schools for girls.
The report alleges that the Taliban subject these women to abusive conditions, including torture. An activist cited by HRW stated that women protesters, initially forced off the streets, now find it impossible to organise protests even indoors.
HRW has urged the international community to intensify their efforts in supporting Afghan women, who are currently facing significant risks.
