In Afghanistan, women's rights activist Frozan Safi has been shot and killed in northern Afghanistan, in what appears to be the first known death of a women’s rights defender since the Taliban swept to power almost three months ago. This was reported by The Guardian.
Four women were killed in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan, a spokesman for the Taliban government said on Saturday, as local sources identified at least one of the victims as a rights activist.
Frozan Safi’s body was identified in a morgue in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif after she went missing on 20 October. “We recognised her by her clothes. Bullets had destroyed her face,” said Safi’s sister, Rita, who is a doctor.
“There were bullet wounds all over, too many to count, on her head, heart, chest, kidneys and legs.” Her engagement ring and her bag had both been taken, Rita added.
Two suspects were arrested after the four bodies were found at a house in the city, Qari Sayed Khosti announced.
"The suspects admitted during initial interrogation that they invited all women into the house by. Further investigations are underway," he said.
The deaths underscore the pervasive sense of fear in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where a spate of reprisal killings of people linked to the previous government has fostered an atmosphere of impunity and confusion.
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch said Taliban rules were prohibiting most women from operating as aid workers in the country, hastening a looming humanitarian disaster. Activists say they are being hunted down by the Taliban, who have perfected ways to infiltrate and intimidate women’s groups.