UNITED NATIONS: The UN human rights office has expressed alarm over the continued disappearance of six people who it said were abducted in Kabul in connection with recent women’s rights protests.
“We are gravely concerned for their well-being and safety, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the High Commissioner for Human Rights,” told journalists at a regular press briefing in Geneva.
Despite the “de facto” authorities’ announcement on Saturday of an investigation into the disappearance two weeks ago of these individuals, “there is still no confirmed information on their whereabouts”, she added.
In the early evening of 19 January, Parwana Ibrahim Khil and her brother-in-law were abducted while traveling in Kabul, according to the UN.
Later that same evening, Tamana Paryani and her three sisters were taken from a house in the city. On 16 January, both Ms. Khil and Ms. Paryani had taken part in peaceful demonstrations calling for the rights of women to be respected by the Taliban, who swept back into power last August.
Since then, there have been reports coming in of house searches of other women who participated in protests.
“The lack of clear information on the location and well-being of these and other individuals perpetuates a climate of fear and uncertainty”, Ms. Shamdasani said.
