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Taliban Restrict Women’s Right To Sports Even As Paris Olympics Begin, Says HRW

Jul 27, 2024, 10:48 GMT+1

Human Rights Watch has said that the Paris Olympics have begun even though the Taliban in Afghanistan have deprived millions of women and girls of their right to education and sports.

The organisation has called on the Taliban to end the restrictions on the basic rights of women and girls.

Coinciding with the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, Human Rights Watch wrote on X social media platform, "As the Paris Olympics begin, millions of women and girls in Afghanistan are being denied the right to education and sports."

The human rights organisation has urged the Taliban to end the mistreatment of Afghan women and girls and to lift the restrictions imposed on them.

Over the past three years, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women's work and activities. In addition to prohibiting girls from attending school above the sixth grade and preventing them from entering universities and educational centres, the group has also banned women's sports.

Earlier, the spokesperson for the Taliban-controlled Olympic Committee told Agence France-Presse that they do not recognise the three Afghan female athletes who are participating in the Paris Olympics.

Six Afghan athletes, three women and three men, are representing Afghanistan in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Additionally, five Afghan athletes are participating in the event as part of the International Olympic Committee's refugee team, bringing the total number of Afghan athletes at the Paris Olympics to eleven.

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At Least 27 Prisoners, Including 3 Afghans, Executed In Iran

Jul 27, 2024, 09:32 GMT+1

According to reports from Iranian human rights organisations, at least 27 people, including three Afghans and four women, have been executed in the prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the past six days.

Two of the executed Afghan citizens have been identified as Gulab Shah Noorzeh and Matiullah Barakzai, while the identity of the third person remains unknown.

Gulab Shah Noorzeh and Matiullah Barakzai, both 40 years old, were executed on charges related to drug offences.

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported that the identity of the third executed Afghan citizen in Iran is under investigation.

These executions, reported by HRANA, Hal Vash, and Kurdpa, indicate that Iran has executed at least 27 prisoners over the past six days (from Saturday to Thursday), averaging one execution every five hours.

Of the 27 prisoners executed in the prisons of Urmia, Bandar Abbas, Birjand, Torbat-e Jam, Khorramabad, Shiraz, Qaen, Qazvin, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah, and Mashhad, four were women.

According to human rights organisations, more than 290 people have been hanged in various prisons in Iran since the beginning of this year.

Amnesty International, in its latest annual report on the death penalty worldwide, highlighted a significant increase in executions in Iran, reporting that nearly 75% of all recorded executions globally last year occurred in Iran.

US Congresswoman Introduces Bill To Designate Taliban As Terrorist Organisation

Jul 26, 2024, 15:14 GMT+1

Nancy Mace, a US Congresswoman, has introduced a bill in the US Congress that would designate the Taliban as a "Foreign Terrorist Organisation”.

The bill, known as the "Preventing the Recognition of Terrorist State Act," aims to prevent the recognition of the Taliban.

The Republican representative stated that freedom and justice demand rejecting tyranny and oppression in all its forms and that this bill will ensure the United States never recognises the terrorist regime of the Taliban.

Mace added, "By prohibiting any federal actions implying their legitimacy and designating them as state sponsors of terrorism, we stand firm against this rogue state’s barbarism.”

A statement released by Mace's office on Thursday indicates that, if enacted, the bill will prevent the recognition of the Taliban government.

The statement indicates that the bill will send a clear message to the Middle East that the US will never recognise a regime controlled by terrorists.

This is the first time such a bill has been introduced in the Congress to prevent the recognition of the Taliban.

According to Mace's statement, key provisions of the bill include prohibiting any US government entity from recognising the Taliban regime or allocating funding for that purpose.

The bill would also compel the US Department of State to designate the Taliban as a "State Sponsor of Terrorism" and a "Foreign Terrorist Organisation”.

US Offers $10 Million Reward to Disrupt ISIS-Khorasan Financial Network

Jul 26, 2024, 13:40 GMT+1

The US Department of State has announced a $10 million reward for information leading to the disruption of the financial network of ISIS-Khorasan.

The department stated in a press release that it is offering $10 million for information that results in disrupting the funding processes of ISIS-Khorasan.

This announcement was posted on the "Rewards for Justice" website, which tracks the State Department's rewards for information about wanted individuals and groups.

The release adds that ISIS-Khorasan is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians, who lost their lives in the group's terrorist attacks on schools, mosques, funerals, and even hospitals.

The Department of State believes that ISIS-Khorasan finances its activities through the extraction of natural resources in Afghanistan, including the profitable talc mines in Nangarhar.

The department also noted that ISIS-Khorasan funds itself through activities such as taxation, extortion from local businesses and individuals, illegal tobacco sales in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and money laundering using cryptocurrency.

Additionally, the department stated that this terrorist group receives financial support from the main branch of ISIS.

According to the "Rewards for Justice" website, the group uses its financial resources to purchase weapons, train members, and conduct terrorist operations.

The department emphasised that ISIS-Khorasan uses informal remittance systems to transfer money and fund its activities.

The announcement calls for cooperation to cut off the financial pathways of the group.

ISIS-Khorasan is officially a branch of the "Islamic State" operating in South Asia, primarily in Afghanistan.

The group refers to Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries as "Khorasan Province," based on the historical region of Greater Khorasan.

Muttaqi Hopes TAPI Gas Pipeline Extension in Afghanistan Will Begin Soon

Jul 26, 2024, 12:44 GMT+1

Amir Khan Muttaqi, Taliban's Foreign Minister, during a meeting with Hoja Ovezov, Turkmenistan’s Ambassador in Kabul, on Thursday stated that extending the TAPI gas pipeline is one of the group's major priorities.

The Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ovezov shared the "recent progress regarding the practical work on the TAPI pipeline extension" with Muttaqi.

Hafiz Zia Ahmad, Taliban’s Deputy Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry, mentioned that the focus of the meeting between Muttaqi and Ovezov was the initiation of the TAPI pipeline extension within Afghanistan and the enhancement of bilateral diplomatic relations.

Muttaqi stated that "the relevant Afghan departments are working on finalising all technical aspects of the pipeline extension within Afghanistan so that the work can practically commence soon”.

This week, the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Turkmenistan also emphasised on the importance of developing economic and energy cooperation, including the TAPI project.

On July 10, during a meeting with the Turkmen Ambassador, Muttaqi said that they are resolving the legal obstacles hindering the TAPI project.

The TAPI project was inaugurated in 2016 by the leaders of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India. The TAPI gas pipeline passes through Herat, Farah, Nimroz, Helmand, and Kandahar province of Afghanistan.

TAPI will transport Turkmenistan's gas through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India.

Since coming to power, the Taliban have prioritised the exploitation of natural resources and major energy projects of the previous government.

The group has attempted to improve relations with China and Central Asian countries to attract their investment in Afghanistan's mining sector, albeit unsuccessfully.

Pakistan Accuses Afghan Protestors of Attacking Its Diplomatic Mission In Europe

Jul 26, 2024, 12:06 GMT+1

The Pakistani Foreign Minister said that Afghans residing in Europe have carried out violent attacks and protests against Pakistan's diplomatic missions in Frankfurt, London, and Brussels.

During a call with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), he mentioned that they are working on a sustainable solution for Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

On Thursday, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the phone conversation between Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's Foreign Minister, and Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan stated that the two sides discussed issues related to the cooperation between Pakistan and the UNHCR.

Dar said that "the recent attacks and violent demonstration (by Afghani diaspora) against Pakistan's diplomatic missions in Frankfurt, London, and Brussels” were also discussed with Grandi.

On July 20, a group of angry protestors entered the premises of the Pakistani Consulate in Frankfurt and took down the country's flag. According to reports, this incident occurred on the sidelines of a demonstration in support of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Pakistan and in protest against the killing of Gilaman Waziri, a member of this movement.

Pakistani citizens were also involved in this protest. On July 21, Pakistan's Information and Broadcasting Minister announced that the identification cards and passports of Pakistani citizens involved in the attack on the consulate in Frankfurt, Germany, would be blocked.

Following the attack, Pakistan summoned the German ambassador. The spokesperson of the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Berlin has committed to punishing the perpetrators of the attack.

Earlier, following the death of Gilaman Waziri, several PTM supporters also stormed the Pakistani embassy in London.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the High Commissioner for Refugees has appreciated the recent decision by the Pakistani government to extend the validity of refugee registration cards.

The two sides agreed to continue their cooperation to advance Pakistan-UNHCR collaboration and to find sustainable solutions for the Afghan refugee issue.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees visited Pakistan earlier this month to review the situation of Afghan refugees. After talks with Pakistani officials, he announced the agreement to extend the residency cards for Afghan refugees.