Social Activist and Educationist Matiullah Wesa Detained by Taliban Authorities for Advocating Girls’ Education

Matiullah Wesa, a well-known social activist and educationist who devoted his life to promoting education for girls in Afghanistan, was detained by Taliban authorities on Monday. This has caused outrage both nationally and internationally.

According to Matiullah Wesa’s brother, the Taliban authorities detained Wesa near his home in the Khoshal Khan Area of west Kabul. However, the Taliban authorities have denied that Wesa is in their custody.

Matiullah Wesa was a respected educationist who provided educational opportunities for thousands of girls across Afghanistan over the last decade. He founded an education organization called “Pen Path” which worked to promote education in remote areas of Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban banned girls’ schools, Wesa visited 20 out of 34 provinces of Afghanistan to provide thousands of girls with educational materials. His alleged arrest has come at a time when the new academic year has begun in Afghanistan. This is the third consecutive year that the Taliban-led government has closed the doors of education for girls beyond the sixth grade.

On Sunday, a group of women protested against the prolonged ban on Afghan women and girls’ schools and universities. Unfortunately, the protesters were dispersed by aerial firing, and three of them were detained by the Taliban authorities. The women were later released by the Taliban.

The arrest of Matiullah Wesa has been met with widespread condemnation both nationally and internationally. The international community is calling on the Taliban authorities to release Wesa immediately and allow girls to continue their education without any restrictions. The world is watching and waiting for the Taliban authorities to take positive steps towards the education of girls in Afghanistan.