KABUL (SW) – Latest arrests of social activists by the Islamic Emirate forces have been widely condemned.
After the return of the Islamic Emirate to power, reports of the detention of civil activists, women’s rights activists, especially women protestors, former government forces and journalists have emerged with the reactions and criticisms of Afghan citizens and international organizations.
Three women’s rights activists have been arrested by the Islamic Emirate after launching protests in Kabul in recent days, and in another latest case, Matiullah Wesa, a civil activist and head of the Qalam Laar Foundation, was arrested by the forces of the Islamic Emirate.
Although it has been said that Fatemeh Mohammadi, Malali Hashemi and Ruqiya Saye, three women’s rights activists, have been released by providing a guarantee, but Matiullah Wesa, who was arrested by the forces of the Islamic Emirate on Monday is still in the custody.
The Islamic Emirate has not yet given an explanation about the reason for his arrest or where he is being held, and this has led to more reactions and criticisms against such arrests from the Islamic Emirate.
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, has criticized the detention of Matiullah Wesa and demanded his release from the Islamic Emirate.
The office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also released a statement demanding the release of Matiullah Wesa.
The UNAMA has also requested an explanation regarding the reason for the arrest of this civil activist by the Islamic Emirate.
The Islamic Emirate authorities, however, says that the regime has the right to arrest and interrogate people who have activities that are contrary to the principles of the Islamic Emirate’s government. Bilal Karimi, one of the deputy spokespersons of the Islamic Emirate, told Salam Watandar that the government of the Islamic Emirate does not detain people without any reason. “Anyone who is active in the country, the security forces have the right to investigate him for the sake of the country’s national security and interests. But, in general, we assure you that anyone who lives in the country in a normal way and according to the principles, will not be pursued by the forces of the Islamic Emirate.”
This is despite the fact that recently Amnesty International, by broadcasting a report on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, said that the detention and torture of people by the Islamic Emirate has increased.
The report of this organization also states that the restrictions against women, media and freedom of expression in Afghanistan have increased and the institutions that were active in line with human rights have been seriously limited or stopped.
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