Taliban storm house of detained education activist in Kabul

Taliban storm house of detained education activist and arrest his brothers

The Taliban forces have stormed the house of Matiullah Wesa, an education activist and campaigner, and detained his two young brothers only a day after the group arrested himself, another brother of the activist said in a video message posted on Twitter.

“Our house has been besieged since 10:00 AM today. They also detained, handcuffed, and took two of my brothers – Samiullah and Wali Mohammad – with them. My mother, family members, and children have been also insulted [by the Taliban],” said Attaullah, another brother of the detained education activist, in Pashto in a video he posted on his Twitter account.

Attaullah said he was speaking from a secure place, adding that the Taliban forces have also confiscated Wesa’s laptops and mobile phones in their today’s raid of the activist’s house in Kabul.

“They also try to arrest me but I’m in a safe place,” Attaullah said, describing the Taliban’s search operation of Wesa’s house as “savage” which does not deserve a government. “We have voluntarily served this nation for 15 years and we will never give up our fight even if someone kill us,” he maintained.

A video circulated on social media showed that the Taliban forces have also searched his office and residence leaving the two messed up with documents spread everywhere.

Wesa is the founder of the Pen Path, an organization comprised of volunteer education activists which was established in 2009. In addition to creating public libraries, collecting books, and launching mobile schools, the organization has been actively campaigning for girls’ education ever since the Taliban banned secondary education for girls in March 2022.

He was arrested on Monday which drew immediate reactions from the UN agencies, European Union, and the Human Rights Watch.