4 missing women activists freed: UNAMA

After weeks of disappearance, four women activists have been set free by the Taliban, says the UN mission in Afghanistan.

Identified as Tamana Zaryabi Paryani, Parwana Ibrahimkhel, Zahra Mohammadi and Mursal Ayar, the women had gone missing after attending a demonstration.

Late on Sunday, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) tweeted: “After a long period of uncertainty about their whereabouts and safety, the four ‘disappeared’ women activists, as well as their relatives who also went missing, have been released by the de facto authorities.”

Ibrahimkhel was reportedly released on Friday. She had disappeared along with Paryani on January 19 after attending a protest in Kabul.

AFP reported Mohammadi and Ayar went missing weeks later. Several relatives of the women activists had also disappeared.

Over the last few months, the global fraternity repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to respect human rights, including women’s rights.