What is the main reason behind the arrest of Manizha Seddiqi?

By: Mohammad Khogyani As the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, protests and demonstrations also increased in some provinces of the country. These protests raised questions about the meaning of such demands in such circumstances. Most of these slogans called for women to be allowed to work, given the right to education, and in some cases, protested against the hijab. The origin and motivations behind these protests are well-known. Some female protesters, including women and girls, sought refuge in foreign countries, while others were still awaiting visas to leave for foreign destinations. Whenever a man or woman is arrested in Afghanistan, organizations such as the Organization of Human Rights, Amnesty International, the United Nations, and others promptly become aware and issue statements advocating for their innocence and immediate release. They often perceive Afghanistan as lacking a system, government, and adherence to their standards. However, Afghanistan does have a system, government, laws, regulations, courts, intelligence, and organizations. There are laws and punishments, and no one should be above the law. The Taliban government does not oppose protests, as they are common in today’s world. However, protests fuelled by ethnic, religious, sectarian, and prejudiced issues should be avoided. These protests, initiated by a small number of individuals, create problems for a larger number of people and have a negative impact on their lives and businesses. One prominent figure among these protests in Kabul is Manizha Seddiqi, who identifies herself as a women’s rights activist. She was arrested a year ago by the Taliban government’s intelligence agency. Various international organizations have expressed concerns about her arrest, but they remain silent about her anti-government activities. Who is Manizha Seddiqi? Manizha Seddiqi, the daughter of Abdulmanan Seddiqi, was born in Parwan province in 1991. She graduated from the mathematics department of Kabul Education University in 2014 and was an activist for women’s rights in Herat during the Republic government. With the fall of the republican government, Manizha Seddiqi began engaging in various activities against the Taliban. She initiated disruptive protests and fuelled ethnic and religious tensions, gathering women for demonstrations. These protests also promoted the Evil and Corruption Front and called on the world not to recognize the Taliban government, alleging that it did not protect women’s rights. Hindukush has obtained documents that connect Manizha Seddiqi with various intelligence organizations, and she shared detailed information about each protest with them. She has sought asylum in different countries. In addition to her protests, she has advocated for slogans related to Khorasan, Afghanistani separatism, and has accused the Taliban of genocide against Hazaras and Tajiks. Manizha considers her actions as achievements, suggesting that her protests have prevented the recognition of the Taliban. She still does not accept the Taliban government in Afghanistan and refers to them as “terrorists.” Recently, she published a video in which she burned and buried photos of the Taliban leader and Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the Minister of Higher Education. If Manizha had engaged in such activities in any other country, she would have been arrested. Even the United States, which considers itself the pinnacle of democracy, does not allow such actions within its own borders or tolerate disobedience of the law and riots against the government. UNAMA, the international community, human rights organizations, and Amnesty International are aware that they cannot comment on women’s rights in Palestine, nor do they hold Israel accountable for violating the laws of war by targeting women, children, and the elderly. On the contrary, these organizations support protesters who break Afghan laws and incite people against the government. Anyone who engages in such actions in Afghanistan will face arrest. Manizha’s case is currently in court, and the court will determine the appropriate punishment for her