In the most recent Amnesty Urgent Action Letter, the Union has called on the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior in Afghanistan, Mufti Abdul Matin Qane, to immediately and unconditionally release journalist, Hamid Farhadi, who was arrested and sentenced without legal counsel for reporting on women’s rights.
Noting the ongoing restrictions to women in Afghanistan, Yunisha Bist, Racialized Persons Representative mentions, “it’s important that we support allies like Mr. Farhadi who are practising their right to speak out against the ongoing women’s rights issues happening in his region.”
Farhadi was arrested on September 3, 2024, and sentenced to 2 years in prison for reporting on the realities that women and girls face in Afghanistan. As a result of his activism, Farhadi is being held under conditions that do not meet international human rights standards, such as: limited or no access to legal counsel, healthcare, or family contact, raising serious concerns about his well-being and fair treatment.
Since the Taliban regained power, civic space in Afghanistan has sharply declined. Those who speak up (journalists, women protestors, civil society groups) face harassment, detention, and even torture for practising their right to freely express themselves. This repression not only threatens individuals but undermines democracy and human rights in the region. We urged Afghanistan to not just release Farhadi, but to stop using arbitrary detention and violence to silence those who peacefully promote social change.
“People who stand up for human rights must be protected, not punished, and I hope that the Ministry of the interior can make the appropriate changes to ensure that doesn’t continue, moving forward.” said Bist.
We await a response from the Ministry of the Interior on this urgent matter.
The Amnesty Urgent Action Program allows the Union to take action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click this link to see injustices we have addressed previously, and for further information about this issue or to see a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator below.