“After a long period of uncertainty as to their fate and safety, the four ‘disappeared’ Afghan women activists, together with their relatives who are also missing, have all been released by the Taliban authorities, the UN mission said. in a tweet.
Two first activists, Tamana Zaryabi Paryani and Parwana Ibrahimkhel, were arrested on January 19, a few days after their participation in a demonstration of women in Kabul who protested in particular against the wearing of the burqa, a symbol of the oppression of women in Afghanistan. The other two activists, Mursal Ayar and Zahra Mohammadi, were arrested in early February. Each time, relatives of the activists were also arrested.
” Help me ! »
The release of Parwana Ibrahimkhel had already been announced on Friday February 11 by her relatives, specifying that she had “been detained by the Islamic Emirate (the name given by the Taliban to their regime, editor’s note)”.
In a video posted on social networks just before she was seized, Tamana Zaryabi Paryani filmed herself calling for help in the middle of the night: “Please help me! The Taliban came to us. […] My sisters are there,” she panicked. She was then seen imploring through the door not to enter her home. “If you want to talk, we’ll talk tomorrow. I can’t see you in the middle of the night with the girls (at home). I don’t want to (open)… Please! Help me, help me! “.
The Taliban have always denied any involvement in the disappearance of the activists and have assured that they have opened an investigation. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the authorities had “the right to arrest and imprison opponents or those who violate the law”.
Two journalists freed
On Friday, the Taliban also released two foreign journalists, arrested in Kabul while on mission for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as their Afghan colleagues. One of them is the British Andrew North, freelance journalist and former BBC correspondent in Kabul.
“Several” Britons are also currently detained in Afghanistan, the British Foreign Office announced on Saturday, February 12, adding that it had “discussed” their situation with the Taliban authorities, without specifying their number or who is holding them. Among the British citizens detained is Peter Jouvenal, a former journalist turned businessman, with dual German and British nationality, detained since early December, according to a statement released by his friends.