In Afghanistan, Taliban confirm murder of four women in Mazar-i-Sharif

Published on : 06/11/2021 – 12:34

A Taliban spokesperson confirmed, Saturday, November 6, the murder of four Afghan women whose bodies were found in Mazar-i-Sharif (North) while several assassinations of activists were recently reported.

A feminist activist from Mazar-i-Sharif contacted by AFP said that she knew one of the victims, Frozan Sanfi, “a well-known women’s rights activist in the city”.

Interior Ministry spokesman Qari Sayed Khosti said in a video that two suspects were arrested after the four bodies were found in a house.

“The men arrested confessed during questioning to have invited these women into the house. An investigation is underway and the case is in the hands of the court,” he said, without identifying the victims.

The fear of being ambushed

The activist contacted by AFP said he heard that the victims believed they were in contact with someone who would help them leave the country, then got into a car supposed to take them to the airport, before their bodies were found. two days later.

“When I heard the news (of the murder), I was already scared. My sanity is not good these days,” she adds, choking back tears. “I’m always afraid that someone will come to my door, take me somewhere and kill me.”

The activist says she received a similar call three weeks ago. “The man knew everything about me, asked me to send my documents and fill out a questionnaire, claiming to be an official in my office responsible for sending my information to the United States for my evacuation,” says the activist , who, suspicious, refused the help of this interlocutor.

>> To read also: “The Taliban have a list of targets to cut down” within the LGBT community, reveals an NGO

Another source in Mazar-i-Sharif contacted by AFP also said that at least one of the victims was a women’s rights activist, whose family did not wish to speak to the media.

A third source also indicated that the victims had received a call and believed that it was an invitation to join an evacuation flight, before being recovered by car, then found dead.

The three women contacted by AFP requested anonymity for security reasons.

Since the Taliban took power in mid-August, fear has spread, especially among women, and many activists have fled the country.

No license to kill

Under the previous regime of the ultraconservative group, women had been excluded from the public sphere and most could not work, let alone criticize the government of the day.

But since the Taliban’s return to power, women have demonstrated in the streets of major Afghan cities, including Kabul, to ensure that their rights are respected or that young girls can return to high school.

Taliban fighters broke up some of the protests and the government threatened to arrest journalists covering unauthorized gatherings.

Senior officials in the new government, however, insisted that their men were not allowed to kill activists under any circumstances and vowed to punish any murderer.

With AFP