human rights defender
Wahida Amiri
Actions and Campaigns
© BBC
human rights defender
Actions and Campaigns
© BBC
1990
Woman
Urban
Released
Wahida Amiri was a librarian in Kabul who became a vocal protester against Taliban rule following their takeover in August 2021. She was arrested in February 2022, held in Taliban detention for 19 days, and subjected to forced confessions before being released under the condition that she ceases protesting.
Feb 2, 2022
Feb 20, 2022
Wahida Amiri was never formally sentenced; she was released on 20 February 2022 after 19 days in Taliban custody
Latitude: 34.500898049218456
Longitude: 69.19738769531251
After fleeing Kabul in 2022 following her detention and torture by the Taliban, she has remained active in exile, participating in international forums and speaking out against the Taliban's policies. In July 2024, she testified before the U.S. Congress, urging the recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan. In August 2025, she published an article titled "The Library That Wouldn't Fall," reflecting on the resilience of Afghan women in the face of oppression.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62441553
https://www.darivoa.com/a/concerns-about-the-detention-of-another-female-protester-by-the-taliban-in-kabul/7359002.html
https://zantimes.com/fa/2024/08/06/amiri-i-had-a-simple-wish/
Documented by

Wahida Amiri was a librarian in Kabul who became a vocal protester against Taliban rule following their takeover in August 2021. She was arrested in February 2022, held in Taliban detention for 19 days, and subjected to forced confessions before being released under the condition that she ceases protesting.
Latitude: 34.500898049218456
Longitude: 69.19738769531251
Wahida Amiri was never formally sentenced; she was released on 20 February 2022 after 19 days in Taliban custody
After fleeing Kabul in 2022 following her detention and torture by the Taliban, she has remained active in exile, participating in international forums and speaking out against the Taliban's policies. In July 2024, she testified before the U.S. Congress, urging the recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan. In August 2025, she published an article titled "The Library That Wouldn't Fall," reflecting on the resilience of Afghan women in the face of oppression.
During her detention by the Taliban in February 2022, Wahida Amiri was subjected to various forms of ill-treatment. She was forced to record a video in which she falsely claimed that Afghan protesters abroad had instructed her to participate in demonstrations, a narrative that undermined the legitimacy of her activism. This coerced confession was later broadcast on TOLOnews, a prominent Afghan news outlet, further exposing her to public scrutiny and potential retribution. Additionally, the Taliban confiscated her family's property documents to exert pressure and prevent her from continuing her advocacy. These actions are consistent with reports from organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which have documented the Taliban's systematic repression of women's rights activists, including arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62441553
https://www.darivoa.com/a/concerns-about-the-detention-of-another-female-protester-by-the-taliban-in-kabul/7359002.html
https://zantimes.com/fa/2024/08/06/amiri-i-had-a-simple-wish/