It is with deep concern that we write to raise awareness about the recent arrest of Zakaria Asouli, a prominent author and researcher in Afghanistan. Zakaria is well known for his numerous books, including “Doha Agreement between the Taliban and the US,” and has made a significant contribution to the cultural and intellectual life of his country. Unfortunately, Zakaria has been taken into custody by the Taliban and his current whereabouts are unknown. This is a grave violation of his basic human rights and a blatant attack on the freedom of speech and expression. Zakaria has dedicated his life to promoting knowledge and education, and there is no justification for his arrest. The Taliban’s stance on education and enlightenment is oppressive and goes against the fundamental principles of human dignity and freedom.We demand the immediate release of Zakaria Asouli, and call on the international community to join us in this demand. Zakaria’s arrest is an attack on the values of knowledge, freedom and equality that we hold dear, and it is our duty to stand in solidarity with him.Zakaria’s situation is all the more concerning given the ongoing persecution of Tajiks in Afghanistan, of which he is a descendant. This highlights the urgent need for the international community to take action to bring an end to the violence and oppression in Afghanistan and to protect the rights of all its citizens.In conclusion, we urge you to join us in our campaign to #FreeZakariaAsouli and to speak out against the injustices being committed in Afghanistan. We must not be silent in the face of such human rights violations, and must stand together in support of those who are being persecuted for simply seeking knowledge and truth.
Sincerely
Panjshir Province team
