The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has called on the Taliban to immediately release five women’s rights activists, including Zarifa Yaqubi.
“Family members have not been permitted to visit them and there is no clear information about any charges or why they are being held [captive],” UNAMA tweeted on Saturday (December 3rd).
UNAMA earlier asked the Taliban to provide an explanation about the condition of Zarifa Yaqubi, a women’s rights activist, and four other rights defenders.
The Taliban arrested Zarifa Yaqobi, a prominent women’s rights activist, on November 3rd, during a press conference in Dasht-e Barchi, Kabul.
Taliban forces disrupted the news conference in Kabul on Thursday (November 3rd) intended to launch a new women’s movement called ‘Afghan Women’s Movement for Equality,” detaining Zarifa Yaqubi along with four male colleagues.
After a month of efforts by family members and rights groups, there is still no information about the condition, accusations and whereabouts of this prominent women’s rights defender. Women’s freedoms in Afghanistan have been severely restricted and undermined since the Taliban seized power in August 2021.