KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban intelligence agents have detained two activists in Kabul for participating in a protest demanding an end to the oppression of women and the genocide of Hazaras in Afghanistan, local sources said.
The activists, identified by sources as Najib Watanyar and Izzatullah Rahimi, were detained in the Dasht-e-Barchi area of western Kabul on Sunday, December 2.
According to sources, Najib is being held at the Taliban intelligence headquarters in Kabul, while the whereabouts of Izzatullah remain unknown.
The Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the matter. However, the sources explained that the two young men participated in a street protest alongside several women in Kabul two months ago, demanding women’s rights and an end to the Hazara genocide in Afghanistan. The sources attributed their detention to their involvement in the protest.
Since their return to power in Afghanistan three years ago, the Taliban has detained, tortured, and, in some cases, killed dozens of activists, protesters, human rights defenders, journalists, poets, and others across the country.
Two weeks ago, the Taliban agents detained education activist Abdul Qoddus Yasinzada in western Herat province and social activist Hameed Qarloq in northern Takhar province. The reason for their detention remains unknown, and the Taliban authorities have yet to disclose any information to their relatives.
In many instances, the regime detains them for protesting its policies, often accusing them of spying for foreign countries and media or collaborating with armed resistance groups.
