Taliban free Afghan activist arrested for campaigning in support of female education

The Taliban have freed an Afghan activist who campaigned for the education of females, a local nonprofit organization said Thursday. Matiullah Wesa was arrested seven months ago and spent 215 days in prison, according to the group, Pen Path.

Wesa has been outspoken in his demands for girls to have the right to go to school and repeatedly called on the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan to reverse its bans on female education.

Wesa’s release came just days after the London-based nonprofit Index on Censorship declared him the winner of this year’s campaign award in recognition of his advocacy for education for women even after the Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan two years ago.