Women’s Rights Defender Denied Family Visit & Access to Lawyer in Taliban Prison

Amnesty International expressed concerns about the continued detention and risk of torture of Manizha Seddiqi, a women’s human rights defender in Taliban prison.

This organisation said that Seddiqi has been denied the right of a family visit and access to a lawyer.

Amnesty International asked the Taliban intelligence agency to stop punishing women protesters.

On Monday, Amnesty International released a letter addressed to Abdul Haq Wasiq, the head of the General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI), the Taliban intelligence agency, stating the situation of Manizha Seddiqi, and urged for her prompt and unconditional release.

The findings of this organization show that Seddiqi does not have access to medical care in the Taliban prison and her mental condition has deteriorated.

Amnesty International called the detention of this women’s rights defender against international laws and a clear violation of freedom of expression.

Seddiqi was detained by the Taliban in Kabul city on October 9, 2023.

Criticising the detention of human rights activists in Afghanistan, Amnesty International has called for an end to arbitrary detentions of women and their family members by the Taliban.

Meanwhile, on Monday, UNAMA published a report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan from October to December 2023.

This report states that half of the 1,600 human rights violations cases in Taliban prisons were associated with instances of torture and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment of detainees.