Afghan women’s rights activist released from Taliban custody after 31 days

Afghan women’s rights activist Parisa Azada was released from Taliban custody on Tuesday after being detained for 31 days.Azada, a member of the Afghan Women for Justice and Freedom movement, was arrested by the Taliban’s intelligence agency on October 24 in the western Kabul neighborhood of Dasht-e-Barchi.

The Taliban has not yet explained why Azada was arrested.

Maryam Maroof Arwin, a member of the Purple Saturdays movement, said that the Taliban took Azada’s mobile phone and computer when she was arrested, but have not returned them.Arwin also said that the Taliban has taken a guarantee from Azada’s family that she will end her activism and not speak to the media.

Azada’s release comes amid growing international pressure on the Taliban to respect the rights of women and girls.

The United Nations has called for the immediate release of all women’s rights activists who have been detained by the Taliban.

Human Rights Watch has said that the Taliban’s arrests of women’s rights activists are a clear attempt to silence dissent and suppress women’s rights.