Afghan Activists Released From Custody

Four female activists who were arrested a month ago in Afghanistan have reportedly been released.

Last August, the Taliban – an Islamic fundamentalist outfit linked with terrorism, which had previously ruled from 1996 to 2001 – seized power in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American troops.

Resultantly, the rights and autonomy of Afghan women have been severely curtailed.

Soon after participating in a pro-women’s rights rally in Kabul on 19 January, four female activists – Tamana Zaryabi Paryani, Parwana Ibrahimkhel, Zahra Mohammadi and Mursal Ayar – were reported missing, including their relatives.

According to sources, they had been arrested and detained by armed men working for the Taliban government.

On Sunday, 13 February, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan announced on Twitter that the women and their relatives “have all been released by the de facto authorities.” However, their state of health is currently unknown.

The Taliban government actively denied claims that they had a hand in their arrests, despite incriminating video footage posted by Paryani to Facebook prior to her arrest, in which she is heard pleading for help after armed men arrived at her home.

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