A woman activist in Afghanistan, Tamana Zaryab Paryani, has reportedly been arrested and detained by the Taliban for her involvement in recent protests across Kabul. The woman had recorded her arrest, a video of which had gone viral on social media.
“The Taliban put chains on the wrists and ankles of [my four sisters], and took them away,” Paryani’s sister-in-law told Rukhshana Media under a pseudonym.
In the unconfirmed video, Paryani can be seen cowering in fear as the Afghan Taliban purportedly knock at her front door.
“We don’t want to come out. If you have anything to say come tomorrow when my father is at home. We girls don’t want to see you at this time,” Paryani can be heard shouting in the video.
Tamana Zaryab Paryani, a woman activist calls for help as #Taliban arrive at her home to take her. @UNHumanRights @hrw_fa @hrw @POTUS don’t sit idle and don’t watch in silence pic.twitter.com/bgLSSuFtkl
— Zabihullah Noori (@ZNoori) January 19, 2022
Taliban Deputy Minister of Culture and Information and spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid has said that Paryani faked the video to seek asylum abroad.
Another female activist, Parwana Ibrahimkhail, has also been missing since Wednesday night. The disappearances have sent ripples of fear across the Afghan capital, leading some protestors and activists to reportedly hide out in their homes, and others to question whether the Taliban has managed to infiltrate civil society organizations.
Both of the missing women organized and participated in a protest on January 16, demanding the right to work and pursue education. Taliban forces sprayed the approximately 20 women assembled for the protest with pepper spray. Paryani had apparently shared photos and videos of the protest on an unverified Twitter account.
The Taliban has also denied involvement in the nighttime disappearances of both women.
Although the current Afghan Taliban had promised a more female-friendly Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, various measures, from restrictions on female education and employment to beheadings of female mannequins, have been implemented in the country.
The United Nations Human Rights Council issued a statement condemning the Afghan Taliban’s new policies earlier this week.
“Taken together, these policies constitute a collective punishment of women and girls, grounded on gender-based bias and harmful practices,” the UN Council said.
