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IEA says it’s investigating the disappearance of women activists
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) on Thursday said they are investigating the disappearance of four women protestors who were arrested by the authorities last month.
"We and all the intelligence staff of the Islamic Emirate are looking for these women,” said Bilal Karimi, an IEA spokesman, on Thursday.
Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi also addressed the issue and said in a meeting with the UN special envoy to Afghanistan Deborah Lyons that he would “resolve the issue soon”.
This comes amid growing concern for the safety of the women and on the heels of the UN chief’s comments on Thursday that he was deeply concerned about the situation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that he is “increasingly concerned about the welfare of women activists who have disappeared in Afghanistan."
In a series of tweets he said several women protesters had disappeared in Kabul and that their status had been unknown for weeks.
He stressed that Kabul must ensure the safety of the protesters so that they can return to their homes.
The remarks come after at least four women protesters and their acquaintances were detained in Kabul over the past three weeks.
The United Nations, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have all joined the chorus for their release in the past few weeks.
"The Taliban (IEA) must reveal their whereabouts instead of continued denial of not having them under their arrest," Amnesty International tweeted.
Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), has issued a decree to establish special courts to address pensions, Bakhtar news agency reported on Saturday.
According to the decree, the courts must confirm and process pensions in accordance with Sharia and law.
Pensioners have repeatedly voiced concern over delay in payment, saying that their financial challenges are growing.
Earlier this year, IEA's supreme leader banned money being deducted from salaries of government employees for pensions.
He also requested information on the tenure of employees and the total amount deducted from salaries for pensions.
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Blinken urges immediate lifting of restrictions on women’s education and work in Afghanistan
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to immediately lift restrictions on women's education and work.
Marking two years of the ban on women's education in universities and women's work in NGOs, Blinken said on X that women and girls are the lynchpin to a more stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
“It’s been two years since Taliban (IEA) banned women and girls from universities and Afghan women from working in NGOs. Afghan women and girls are the lynchpin to a more stable, peaceful, and prosperous Afghanistan. We call on the Taliban (IEA) to immediately reverse these edicts,” he said.
The Ministry of Higher Education announced in December 2022 that women and girls could not attend public and private universities "until further notice".
Previously, girls' education above the sixth grade was also suspended.
Former US envoy for Afghanistan peace, Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Saturday that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) can learn from Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, on how to join the mainstream international system.
He noted on X that the US bounty for the arrest of Ahmad al-Sharaa is being removed.
“Others in similar circumstances can learn from Ahmad al Shara how to join the mainstream international system. Are the Taliban paying attention?” he said.
Ahmad al-Sharaa has said that there are many differences between them and the Islamic Emirate.
He has said that he will not prevent the education of women and girls, respect the rights of minorities and will launch an inclusive political process.
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