Taliban Security Forces Arrest Afghan Education Activist Matiullah Wesa

Arrest of Prominent Girls’ Education Activist

Matiullah Wesa, a prominent education activist in Afghanistan, was arrested by Taliban security forces in Kabul on October 19. Wesa is the founder and president of Pen Path, a local NGO that promotes and advocates for girls’ education in the country. The Taliban has imposed numerous restrictions on women’s rights since taking control of the country in August 2021, including banning girls from returning to secondary schools and universities, depriving an entire generation of academic opportunities.

UN Calls for Clarity on Wesa’s Whereabouts and Reasons for Arrest

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called on the Taliban authorities to provide clarification about Wesa’s whereabouts and reasons for his arrest. The UN further urged the authorities to ensure that Wesa has access to legal representation and family contact, as per international human rights standards.

Family Reports Surrounding of House and Confiscation of Mobile Phone

Matiullah’s brother reported that Taliban forces surrounded their family’s house, beat up Matiullah’s brothers and confiscated his mobile phone. His brothers were also arrested, as per a video shared by one of his brothers, Attaullah Wesa while hiding. Taliban authorities have refused to detail when schools might reopen. Afghanistan is the only country in the world to bar girls and young women from education because of their sex, with the ban thought to be a personal order from the Taliban’s supreme leader.

Calls for Release from International Community

The arrest of Wesa has been condemned by top diplomats and human rights groups including the UN and Amnesty International, who called for his immediate release. Hamid Karzai, former President of Afghanistan, called for Wesa’s release, and his supporters demanded the same on social media. Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for education and Nobel Laureate, also expressed her concern and called for his release, which shows the Taliban is arresting champions of education.

Matiullah Wesa’s Advocacy for Girls’ Education in Afghanistan

Matiullah Wesa has been outspoken in his demands for girls’ education and has campaigned for 14 years to eliminate illiteracy and end the misery in Afghanistan. His NGO, Pen Path is known for setting up mobile classrooms in remote areas. Wesa had been working with religious scholars and tribal elders to build community support for educating all children, set up schools in villages without government education, and sent mobile classrooms to remote areas.

Criticism from Around the World on Taliban’s Restrictions on Women and Minority Rights

Amnesty International raised the alarm about the deterioration of human rights in South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, and criticized the Taliban for imposing restrictions on women’s and minority rights. The failure of South Asian countries to uphold gender justice leaves a terrible legacy of suppression, violence, and stunted potential, according to Yamini Mishra, the regional director of Amnesty International.

Implications of Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing near the foreign ministry in Kabul on the day when Matiullah was arrested. The regional IS affiliate is a key rival of the Taliban and has frequently targeted Taliban officials and patrols, as well as members of Afghanistan’s Shiite minority. IS has increased its attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover. The UN special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, expressed his concern about Matiullah’s detention and called for his safety and legal rights to be respected. Afghan women’s rights activist Mahbouba Seraj believes it’s time for engagement with the Taliban on some level to address education and girls’ rights.

In summary, Wesa’s arrest by Taliban authorities has been met with widespread condemnation from the international community. The Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights and education have severely impacted the country’s future, depriving a generation of girls and young women of essential academic opportunities. Wesa’s advocacy for girls’ education in Afghanistan represents the work that needs to be done to uplift Afghan society during these trying times.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons