Afghan Witness Archives

Women in Activism, Media, and Politics Tech-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Policies and Restrictions Featured Social Media Investigations Women's rights Online harassment Repression Taliban Harassment

Mar 7

Finding Alternatives: Entrepreneurship and resilience by Afghan women online

As the Taliban continue to erode women's rights, many Afghan women have turned to Instagram as a lifeline for community, self-expression and business - while navigating increasing restrictions and abuse.

Internal Discord Education Women's rights Taliban

Feb 14

Taliban official Stanikzai reportedly flees Afghanistan amid education dispute

Deputy Foreign Minister's departure follows reported tensions with Supreme Leader over girls' education.

Information environment Foreign relations Protests Social Media Cricket Women's rights Taliban

Feb 3

Afghan diaspora divided over cricket boycott call

UK MPs’ call to exclude Afghanistan from cricket contests splits diaspora over “sportswashing” and national pride

Information environment Human Rights Education ICC Women's rights Education ban Taliban

Feb 3

ICC calls for Taliban arrests over gender-based crimes ignite debate

Opposition hails accountability while Taliban seeks to rally support

Human Rights Investigations Features Media Information environment Women's rights Taliban

Sep 23

Noor Fellowship: meet the fellows and discover their work

Their research offers fresh perspectives on key issues and under-reported stories concerning land rights, media freedom, and women’s digital activism in Afghanistan.

Security Violence Human Rights Women's rights Taliban

Aug 31

Claimed Taliban killing of civilians

Reports of Taliban violence reveal alleged involvement in killings, torture, and beatings of civilians, including minorities and former security personnel, between August 13 and 19, 2024.

Arrests Hate Speech Violence Women's rights

Apr 22

Rising reports of femicide: new digital map documents cases of violence and repression of Afghan women in ‘public’ roles

Female-led newsroom Zan Times used investigative reporting and open source techniques to document killings, disappearances and arrests of Afghan women.

Media Women's rights

Feb 28

Taliban measure to enrol women in public medical institutes promoted by bot-like social media accounts

The news that female graduates would be allowed to apply to study in public medical institutes in 11 provinces has been heavily promoted by social media accounts, some of which display bot-like behaviour

Arrests Gender-Based Violence Women's rights

Feb 26

Surge in female suicides linked to forced marriages, Taliban violence, and arrests

Documenting 195 cases of suicide since April 2022, AW has observed a rise in female suicides since the Taliban seized power in 2021, and identified a pattern suggesting that ethnic minorities appear to make up a disproportionate share of the reported cases

Education Women's rights

Feb 1

Taliban Management of the Education Sector

AW examines the Taliban's stated vision for education in Afghanistan in 2023, comparing the Taliban’s stated vision for education and the reality experienced by practitioners, institutions, and students in the country

Media Women's rights

Jan 23

The stories of Afghanistan’s women journalists

From breaking barriers and challenging taboos, to facing widespread restrictions, AW looks at the experience of Afghanistan’s female journalists since the Taliban’s takeover.

Information environment Women's rights

Oct 13

Reports of prominent activist’s arrest sparks protests, but is also met with online hate speech

As news of Zholia Parsi’s alleged arrest surfaced, Afghan Witness monitored the online response.