Afghan And Iranian Women Unite Against 'Gender Apartheid'

Initially supportive of the Taliban's return to power and their promise of security, Jamil's stance shifted as he openly criticised the group's oppressive regime and curtailment of civil liberties.

Reports indicate that the Taliban’s intelligence agency summoned Jamil on Wednesday and subsequently detained him upon his arrival at their office.

There has been no official comment from the Taliban regarding Jamil's arrest.

Recently, Jamil advocated for girls' educational rights on television, calling for the reopening of schools for female students.

His arrest has sparked outrage on social media, with commentators accusing the Taliban of trying to maintain a state of ignorance and repression among the Afghan population.

In his final post on the social media network X before his arrest, Jamil expressed his commitment to fighting for the Afghan people's civil, political, economic, and cultural rights. He described his advocacy as a "national duty and mission" to uphold the nation's identity, values, and voice.

Speculation has arisen that Jamil's arrest was influenced by his recent demands for the restoration of girls' education and a more inclusive governance system in Afghanistan.

In the last two and a half years, the Taliban has detained numerous female activists, academics, journalists, and policy critics.

Human rights organisations worldwide have demanded the release of these detained individuals, highlighting the Taliban's continued repression and violation of human rights.

The statement alleges that the Taliban is attempting to "deceive public opinion”.

In the presence of media outlets, controlled by the Taliban, in Pul-e-Charkhi prison, Seddiqi said that she was not tortured in Taliban prison.

Members of the women’s movement have demanded the unconditional release of this women's rights activist from Taliban prison.

Following widespread protests and concerns about the torture of Seddiqi in Taliban prison, Taliban officials say that her condition in prison is good.

Last year in October, the Taliban detained Manizha Seddiqi, a member of the Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women, in Kabul.

The Women’s Movement for Peace and Freedom Movement emphasised that "obtaining coerced confession is against Islamic ethics and violates the rights of prisoners”.

Condemning the "cruel behaviour of the Taliban,” this movement called on the United Nations and international human rights organisations to take action for the unconditional release of Seddiqi.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry warned political activists of "legal and religious" consequences for repeating political activities.

This Taliban ministry stated that political party activities have been declared as a prohibited act following the group’s takeover of power in 2021, and the directorate of political parties has been revoked and removed from the ministry's structures.

The ministry noted that some officials of political parties have recently "taken action and performed activities from their dissolved party addresses”.

The statement mentions, "The Ministry of Justice considers any activities under the name of a party illegal in Afghanistan and warns that it will take legal and religious action against offenders in case of repetition of such activities."

The ministry did not mention the name of any political activists and did not provide details regarding their actions and positions.

It seems that the Taliban refers to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and the Hezb-e Islami Party. Recently, the Taliban expelled Gulbuddin Hekmatyar from his residence in Kabul. The Taliban stated that Hekmatyar has been living in government property. This issue sparked extensive debates between members of the party and Taliban officials.

The Taliban's Ministry of Justice added that it has suspended the activities of social institutions that were active in the previous government, and only charities and unions can operate in accordance with principles and with official permission from the Taliban's Ministry of Justice.

The ministry also warned charities and other social institutions operating without official permission from the group to cease their activities.

Simultaneously with the release of this announcement, the Taliban’s Supreme Court announced that three individuals have been put on trial, for their involvement in political activities, in a military court in Kandahar.

On Thursday, the Taliban’s Supreme Court stated that two of the accused have been sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment each, while the third individual has received a sentence of 30 lashes.

As per the statement issued by the Taliban’s Supreme Court, the third individual has also been handed a prison sentence, although the duration of this imprisonment has not been specified.

This marks the first official announcement by the Taliban’s Supreme Court regarding the trial and punishment of individuals for engaging in political activities. Previously, numerous individuals were detained by the Taliban for their civil and political engagements, yet the group refrained from explicitly addressing penalties for political activities in their official communications.

On Thursday, the Taliban’s Supreme Court stated that two of the accused have been sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment each, while the third individual has received a sentence of 30 lashes.

As per the statement issued by the Taliban’s Supreme Court, the third individual has also been handed a prison sentence, although the duration of this imprisonment is not specified.

This marks the first official announcement by the Taliban’s Supreme Court regarding the trial and punishment of individuals for engaging in political activities. Previously, numerous individuals were detained by the Taliban for their civil and political engagements, yet the group refrained from explicitly addressing penalties for political activities in their official communications.

Earlier, the Taliban's Ministry of Justice had announced the dissolution of all political parties upon the group's takeover of power in August 2021. The group had declared that political activities within the country were strictly prohibited under its control.

National Security Advisors of the SCO member states issued a statement on Wednesday stating that the presence of international terrorist groups and other groups based in Afghanistan poses a serious threat to the member states of the SCO.

The joint statement was issued after the SCO meeting in Kazakhstan. Reviewing the security situation of the SCO member countries was the main topic of this meeting.

During its nineteenth annual meeting, the Security Councils of the SCO emphasised on the importance of expanding cooperation to address terrorist threats, transnational organised crime, suppression of channels financing terrorism, and illegal migration.

China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan constitute the SCO's membership. These nations have voiced concerns multiple times over the past two years regarding the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan.