The United Nations has demanded the Taliban provide information on two more women activists allegedly detained by the group this week — bringing to four the number missing this year.
Since returning to power in August the Taliban have cracked down on dissent by forcefully dispersing women’s rallies, detaining critics and beating local journalists covering protests.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said late on Thursday it had sought “urgent information” on the reported detentions of two more women activists by the Taliban in Kabul this week.
“UN repeats its call for all ‘disappeared’ women activists & relatives to be released,” it said on Twitter.
US special envoy to Afghanistan Rina Amiri also called on the Taliban to respect women’s rights.
“If the Taliban seek legitimacy from the Afghan people & the world, they must respect Afghans’ human rights — especially for women,” she said on Twitter.
UNAMA did not reveal the names of the two women activists missing this week, but another rights advocate told AFP that Zahra Mohammadi and Mursal Ayar had been arrested by the Taliban.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern for them and four of their relatives, who all remain missing.
The Taliban have denied any knowledge of their whereabouts and say they are investigating the matter.
