human rights defender

Sultan Ali Ziaee

Actions and Campaigns

Urgent support needed

Sultan Ali Ziaei requires immediate medical attention due to severe back problems caused by torture, which cause constant pain. He also suffers from internal injuries and psychological trauma resulting from the torture, requiring urgent treatment and care.

Organization affiliation

  • Roshanah-ye Omid Afghanistan Social Organization

HRD's year of birth

1994

HRD's Gender

Man

Type of HRD

  • NGO member

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Minorities’ rights
  • Women's rights

HRD's geographical origin

Urban

Current Status

Released

HRD's bio and work

Sultan Ali Ziaei, born in 1994 in Pul-e-Khumri, Baghlan Province, Afghanistan, is a human rights defender focused on women’s rights, the right to education, and youth empowerment. Between 2015 and 2020, he organized educational and book-reading activities for girls and boys, including in areas under Taliban control.

In 2020, he founded and became head of the Roshanah-ye Omid Afghanistan Social Organization in Kabul, an inclusive organization involving youth from 20 Afghan provinces.

After the Taliban takeover, he continued advocacy for women’s right to education and work. He was arrested on January 7, 2023, detained for three months and fifteen days, and subjected to severe physical and psychological torture.

Following mediation by the United Nations, human rights organizations, and local elders, he was released.

Detained since

Jan 7, 2023

Date of release

Apr 17, 2023

Charge(s)

  • Anti-government propaganda

Sentence

He was detained without a formal judicial sentence

Latitude: 34.52836134534272

Longitude: 69.19633799586286

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Southern Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

Kabul

Location of detention - Facility

Detention Center of GDI

Allegations / reports of ill-treatment

  • Severe and unbearable torture
  • Humiliation and insults
  • Torture aimed at forcing him to disclose the addresses of his colleagues
  • Numerous other forms of physical and psychological abuse

Recent case update / evolution

Sultan Ali Ziaei was released on April 17, 2023, after 3 months and 15 days of detention, following severe physical and psychological torture. His release was secured through the intervention of the United Nations, human rights organizations, and local elders.

Any other relevant documents

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/un-rights-office-calls-for-immediate-release-of-all-arbitrarily-detained-in-afghanistan/2858710

https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/feb-april_2023_update_on_the_human_rights_situation_in_afghanistan_english_0.pdf

https://www.ohchr.org/fr/statements/2023/03/comment-un-human-rights-spokesperson-jeremy-laurence-afghanistan

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