Afghan women’s rights activist Manizha Sediqi has been released from prison under an Eid al-Fitr amnesty decree from the Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, according to women’s rights activists.
The Taliban announced on Sunday the release of 406 prisoners, including 388 men, 40 women, and 28 children, from Pul-e-Charkhi prison on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan this week.
Laila Basim, head of the Afghan Women’s Spontaneous Protest Movement, said that Manizha Sediqi was freed from Taliban custody on Sunday after seven months of imprisonment for protesting women’s rights.
“I spoke with Manizha’s brother and mother. Manizha was released from prison according to Mullah Hebatullah’s directive, alongside several other detainees. Her mental and physical well-being is fragile, requiring rest to overcome the hardships endured during her imprisonment,” Ms Basim told Rukhshana Media.
Three days before Ms Sediqi’s release, a video surfaced of her requesting her release and saying that she had not experienced any torture in Taliban detention.
The Afghan Women’s Hope Window Movement also confirmed Ms Sediqi’s release from Taliban captivity
In a statement, the group said that Ms Sediqi had been arrested seven months ago for burning a photo of Mullah Akhundzada, and has endured torture during her imprisonment.
The statement expressed relief at her release and vowed to continue to fight until the rights of Afghan women are safeguarded.
Ms Sediqi was arrested on October 9 last year near her residence in Kabul’s Kart-e Naw area.
She was transferred to the high security Pol-e-Charkhi prison in Kabul five months ago following a Taliban court ruling, where she has been detained since.
After the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021, numerous women have been detained for protesting and on various pretexts such as how they wear their clothes. While many are eventually released with conditions, others like Alia Azizi, the director of the women’s prison in Herat, remain missing.
