Taliban Detains Six Staff Members of Afghan Women’s Rights Group
Human Rights Watch reported that the Taliban forcibly disappeared six staff members of the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation in Afghanistan on July 18, after they were summoned to their office to retrieve confiscated electronic devices. The organization has…
Fort Myers Naples, FL, August 13, 2026 —
Six staff members of the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation (WCLRF) have been forcibly disappeared by the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to a report by Human Rights Watch. The detentions occurred on July 18.
The individuals were reportedly summoned to the WCLRF office under the pretext of retrieving confiscated electronic devices. The circumstances surrounding their disappearance have raised significant concerns among human rights organizations.
Human Rights Watch has issued a call for the immediate release of the six staff members. The organization stated that they should be released unless they are formally charged with a recognizable offense under Afghan law.
The Women and Children Legal Research Foundation is an organization focused on advocating for the rights of women and children in Afghanistan. The nature of their work may be a factor in the detentions, though this has not been officially confirmed.
The situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding the human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly the treatment of individuals and organizations working on women’s rights and legal issues since the Taliban regained control of the country.
Information regarding the specific charges, if any, against the detained staff members, as well as their current whereabouts, has not been provided.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on apnews.com, see more information here.
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