Courageous Afghan women do not bow to threats

Afghan Women's News Agency Editor-in-Chief Humira Saqib pointed out that human rights activists and women begin to be targeted after the USA’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. “Women don’t leave their spaces no matter where they are, they take a brave stance in every part of life,” she said.

News Center - Afghan Women's News Agency Editor-in-Chief and women's human rights activist Humira Saqib pointed out the alarm bells ringing in Afghanistan. Reporting that they couldn’t publish news on their news website for the last 20 days because it was hacked, Humira Saqib said that they have received threats. “We couldn’t access the website of Afghan Women's News Agency for 20 days because it was hacked. We have received many threat messages. Our laptops and computers were also hacked.  Even though we moved our office to a less visible location, the number of threats never decreases. Surely, the threats affect us because we are now under attack. “

 “All they do is to allow using guns”

Stating that the threats against human rights activists and women have recently increased, Humira Saqib noted that the government hasn’t fulfilled its responsibilities. “All they (government) do is to allow using guns,” said Humira Saqib and recalled the murder of human rights activist Yousuf Rashid.

“Urgent measures must be taken”

Humira Saqib called on the countries to take urgent measures against what is going on in the country. “Didn’t these countries enter Afghanistan to revive these human rights values after September 11 attacks? If they don’t defend and stand by the people of Afghanistan, unfortunately, this will mean their presence in Afghanistan is for power-sharing not for peace-making. As an Afghan woman, I don’t believe that the peace not including the right to education, work, and freedom of expression is peace because it isn’t.”

“Many journalists were killed”

Noting that the situation in her country has become critical in recent months after the Afghan government started peace talks with the Taliban, Humira Saqib said, “Afghan activists object to any negotiations with the terrorist group. Most of the attacks carried out in Afghanistan are against women and this shows that women are at higher risk. Many journalists were subjected to attacks and many of them had to leave the country due to threats they received. Many journalists were killed.”

“Women have taken a brave stance despite all pressures”

Highlighting that Afghan women work at the cost of their own life, Humira Saqib said, “They don’t leave their spaces no matter where they are, they take a brave stance in every part of life.”