Abuse of power & retaliationPhysical & psychological abuse

Taliban authorities detained a Kabul women's-rights activist and her son for about three months; she says she was tortured and lost hearing in one ear

Confidence: Confirmed · 5 sourcesAfghanistan · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban de facto authorities)

Also named

Oversight

UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures (UN human rights experts)

Affected

Zholia Parsi, Founder, Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women; women's rights activist

Neda Parwani, Women's rights activist (Afghanistan)

Advocate

Martin Ennals Foundation

What happened

Zholia Parsi, a Kabul teacher and founder of the Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women, was arrested in the street by armed Taliban personnel in September 2023 and held for about three months without access to a lawyer or family visits; her son was detained with her. On 31 October 2023, UN human rights experts called for the immediate release of Parsi and fellow activist Neda Parwan, noting neither had been charged or brought before a court. The Martin Ennals Foundation says she was subjected to torture and ill-treatment in custody, and Parsi has told Afghanistan International she lost hearing in one ear as a result of beatings; that claim has not been independently verified. She was released in December 2023. In November 2024 the Martin Ennals Foundation named her its 2024 laureate, the first Afghan to receive the award. The Taliban authorities have not responded to these accounts.

Sources (5)

OHCHR (UN human rights experts press release)Taliban must immediately release women human rights defenders, say UN experts — naming Zholia Parsi and Neda Parwani, detained since September 2023.

Martin Ennals Award (Foundation profile)In September 2023, armed Taliban arrested Parsi in the street ... held in a detention center, without access to a lawyer and without family visits. She was subjected to torture and ill-treatment during three months before she was released.

KabulNowActivist Jailed and Tortured by Taliban Wins Prestigious Human Rights Prize.

HURIDOCSMartin Ennals Award recognises human rights defenders in Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Afghanistan Internationalclaims she lost hearing in one ear because of torture by the Taliban in prison

Response

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (Taliban de facto authorities)

No response by publication

Contacted — no response by publication.

What happened next (0)

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