Rights Group Urges Release of Afghan Women Protestors, Cites Human Rights Violations

Amnesty International has called on the Taliban for the immediate release of four detained women protestors, citing violations of human rights in the group’s custody.

The organisation highlighted the cases of Zholia Parsi, Neda Parwani, Manizha Seddiqi, and Parisa Azada, who are currently being held without legal representation and are denied regular contact with their families.

In a recent statement, Amnesty International detailed the lack of access to lawyers and medical care for these women, raising concerns about the potential for torture and other forms of mistreatment. The statement, addressed to Abdul Haq Wasiq, the head of Taliban's intelligence agency, emphasised the need for improved detention conditions in line with international standards, including access to legal counsel and family visitation rights.

This plea from Amnesty International comes in the wake of a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which documented around 800 instances of human rights abuses, including torture, in Taliban prisons from January 2022 to July 2023, out of a total of 1,600 recorded cases.

Furthermore, Amnesty International reported that women participating in protests have faced verbal abuse, harassment, and threats from Taliban forces. The organisation also noted the arbitrary detention of journalists covering these protests and the targeting of protestors' family members, further underscoring the widespread human rights violations under the current regime.

Amnesty International stressed that these detentions are in direct violation of international human rights laws, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Afghanistan is a signatory. The organisation continues to advocate for the protection of human rights in Afghanistan, especially for women and those standing up for these rights.