Afghan Girls' Education Advocate Arrested By Taliban

Matiullah Wesa, who has been advocating for girls' right to education since the Taliban imposed a ban on women's education in the country in 2021, was arrested by the Taliban in Kabul.

So far, the Taliban have not commented on his arrest.

Source : Twitter/@matiullahwesa

Taliban arrested a well-known girls' education campaigner identified as Matiullah Wesa in Kabul on Monday, reported the AFP citing the UN. Wesa is a 30-year-old activist who has been working in the remote parts of Afghanistan to ensure access to education for all children, particularly girls.

“Matiullah Wesa, head of PenPath1 and advocate for girls’ education, was arrested in Kabul Monday,” the United Nations mission in Afghanistan tweeted.

Matiullah Wesa, head of @PenPath1 and advocate for girls’ education, was arrested in #Kabul Monday. UNAMA calls on the de facto authorities to clarify his whereabouts, the reasons for his arrest and to ensure his access to legal representation and contact with family. pic.twitter.com/D6N1mjWxLv

— UNAMA News (@UNAMAnews) March 28, 2023

Wesa was head of the PenPath organisation and he often received threats for his work to educate girls in the country.

Wesa's brother, Samiullah, confirmed the arrest to AFP and said the activist was beaten and forcefully taken away.

Wesa has been advocating for girls' right to education since the Taliban imposed a ban on women's education in the country in 2021.

In his last tweet on Monday, he said, "Men, women, elderly,young, everyone from every corner of the country are asking for the Islamic rights to education for their daughters. PenPath female volunteers call for girls' education and their rights to education."

Men, women, elderly, young, everyone from every corner of the country are asking for the Islamic rights to education for their daughters. Penpath female volunteers calls for girls education and their rights to education #PenPathGirlsEduCampaign #PenPathGirlsEduCampaign pic.twitter.com/gekG7fsGKj

— Matiullah Wesa مطيع الله ويسا (@matiullahwesa) March 26, 2023

The activist's detention comes amid several ongoing arrests of a number of other activists advocating for female education in Afghanistan.

For instance, in February this year, the Taliban had arrested Prof Ismail Mashal who is a critic of the ban on education for women under the Taliban regime in the country, reported BBC.

Mashal was arrested in Kabul when he was distributing free books to people. However, the officials released him on 5 March.

Taliban has continued to crackdown on women's rights activists and girls' education ever since they came to power after the US-led forces withdrew from the country.

After September 2021, only boys and male teachers were given permission to attend secondary schools. Taliban said girls will only be allowed to go to schools after "a comprehensive plan has been prepared according to Sharia and Afghan culture," reported BBC.