Taliban Transfers Arrested Woman Protester To Hospital, Say Sources

Along with the release of reports regarding Zhulia Parsi's "poor physical condition" attributed to "torture" in a Taliban prison, sources confirmed to Afghanistan International that she has been transferred to a hospital.

However, they expressed uncertainty about the reason for her transfer to the hospital.

A number of women wrote on social media that Parsi was taken to the hospital "with a poor physical and mental condition caused by brutal torture in the Taliban's prison”.

Sources, including one close to Parsi's family, have confirmed her transfer to the hospital. However, the Taliban has not provided any details to her family regarding the reason for the transfer, the nature of the illness, or the physical condition of this women's rights activist.

Sources said that Parsi's family is not aware of the hospital where she is receiving treatment.

On September 27, Parsi and her child were arrested by the Taliban from her house in Kabul. She was the head of the Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women in Kabul, which protested against the discrimination and deprivation of women under the rule of the Taliban.

On October 31, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that the Taliban continue to detain, threaten and torture women protestors in Afghanistan.

The organisation stated that many families, by choosing not to publicise the detainment of these activists, hope for their release or reduced harassment.

According to HRW, the number of protesting women in Taliban detention centres is higher. However, neither their families nor anyone else is adequately informed about the situation of these women.

The organisation had expressed concerns about the continued detention and wellbeing of Zhulia Parsi, Neda Parwani, Manizha Sediqi, and Parisa Azada in Taliban prisons.