Matiullah Wesa: Education Activist Arrested by Taliban for Advocating Girls’ Rights to Learn in Afghanistan.
Matiullah Wesa is an education activist from Afghanistan who has been advocating for the rights of girls and women to attend school despite the restrictions imposed by the Taliban.
Recently, he was detained by the Taliban on accusations of self-serving activities and anti-establishment motivations. Wesa is the founder of Pen Path, a local non-governmental organization.
For various reasons, his organization travels across Afghanistan with a mobile school and library to educate young people, especially girls deprived of it.
Locals have reported that the Taliban security forces detained Wesa upon his return from a trip to Europe.
The arrest has drawn widespread condemnation both within Afghanistan and internationally, and the United Nations has urged the Taliban to clarify the situation and ensure Wesa’s safety.
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Taliban Arrest Matiullah Wesa: When Did It Happen?
On Monday, Matiullah Wesa was arrested by the Taliban after returning from a trip to Belgium.
According to his brother Attaullah Wesa, who is not affiliated with the Taliban, Matiullah and another brother were in a mosque when two pickup trucks filled with armed Taliban members arrived and took Matiullah away.
During the arrest, the security forces reportedly assaulted his brothers and insulted their mother. They also confiscated Wesa’s mobile phone.
The news of Wesa’s arrest has sparked a social media Campaign with the hashtag #FreeWesa, as people inside and outside Afghanistan express their concern for his safety and demand his release.
The international community has also been vocal in condemning the arrest and calling for the Taliban to respect Wesa’s rights and ensure his safety.
The UN special rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has stated that “his safety is paramount, and his legal rights must be respected.”
Wesa is a 30-year-old from the southern province of Kandahar and has been an active voice for education and women’s rights in Afghanistan.
However, his recent meetings with Western officials and rights advocates reportedly angered the Taliban leaders, who may have seen him as a threat to their authority.
Wesa’s arrest highlights the ongoing challenges activists and advocates face in Afghanistan.
The international community’s support is crucial to ensure that young girls in Afghanistan have access to education and that human rights are respected.
Why Was Matiullah Wesa Arrested?
Matiullah Wesa’s arrest is likely linked to his long-standing Campaign for education access, particularly for girls in Afghanistan.
He has been a vocal critic of the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s and minority rights and has repeatedly called on the group to reconsider its policies.
In addition to his education activism, Wesa was arrested for high-level meetings with Western officials and activists.
He recently visited Belgium to discuss the worsening circumstances for women and girls in Afghanistan, particularly regarding education. This may have been seen as a threat by the Taliban, who are wary of foreign influence and interference.
Wesa founded Pen Path, a grassroots organization that has launched door-to-door campaigns to promote girls’ education in Afghanistan.
In his most recent tweets before his arrest, Wesa highlighted that a new academic year was starting in Afghanistan, but girls remained out of classrooms and campuses.
Currently, the Taliban has not provided any explanation for Wesa’s arrest. Senior members of the group have only confirmed that he is currently in custody.
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