UN Experts Demand Immediate Release of Afghan Education Rights Defender Fahim Azimi
Seven United Nations experts have collectively demanded the immediate release of Ahmad Fahim Azimi, an Afghan education rights activist, who is currently detained by the Taliban.
They declared on Monday that there is no justification for Azimi's detention. The experts' statement highlighted that Ahmad Fahim Azimi has been held for the past six months for advocating educational rights.
The signatories include Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, along with six other UN experts.
Azimi, known for his work in education advocacy, and his colleague, Sadiqullah Afghan, were arrested on September 16, 2023, by Taliban’s intelligence agency in Kabul's Kart-e-Char area and were subsequently incarcerated in Pul-e-Charkhi prison.
Amnesty International, on Wednesday, confirmed the release of Sadiqullah Afghan from prison.
The UN experts' joint statement raised alarms about the persistent arrests of human rights defenders and educational activists.
They emphasised that education is a fundamental right and that advocates for this cause should not face persecution.
In the last two and a half years, the Taliban have detained, tortured, and jailed numerous human rights activists, women, and journalists under various pretexts, with many still in captivity.
