The Taliban arrested human rights defender and education rights campaigner Matiullah Wesafrom the Khoshhal-Khan area in Kabul on Monday. He has been campaigning nationally and internationally against the worsening circumstances for women and girls’ education in Afghanistan under the Taliban. The Taliban spokersperson has confirmed Matiullah Wesa’s arrest stating that this was due to his ‘illegal activities’.
He is a prominent human rights defender, advocating for girls’ education rights for over 14 years, including prior to the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Matiullah Wesa is the head of PenPath, a local non-governmental organisation that champions education rights, especially girls’ education.
He nder works to reach the remotest parts of Afghanistan by engaging and collaborating with community leaders to open schools and libraries and by bringing its mobile school and library to remote areas. After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, Matiullah Wesa has been a vocal advocate against the bans on girls’ education and launched a door-to-door campaign on the issue. He is also actively advocating for those rights on social media.
On Monday, he was reportedly beaten and forcibly abducted from outside a mosque in Kabul following evening prayers. Reports indicate that Taliban threatened Matiullah Wesa’s family and seized their phones, documents and computers. Matiullah Wesa’s brothers were also briefly detained but were later released with a warning.
UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan has urged that his safety is paramount and his legal rights must be respected. The UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) demanded the reasons of his arrest and whereabouts to be immediately communicated. Additionally, UNAMA demanded for access to legal representation and contact with family for the human rights defender.
Front Line Defenders deplored that Matiullah Wesa’s arrest reflects the de-facto authorities’ attempt to silence human rights defenders and those speaking out on women and girls rights. It demanded his immediate and unconditional release.
