human rights defender

Parisa Azada

Actions and Campaigns

Urgent support needed

Psychosocial support

Medical assistance for the lasting effects of the torture endured

Financial support

Relocation to a safe place

HRD's year of birth

1998

HRD's Gender

Woman

Type of HRD

  • Journalist/Blogger
  • NGO member

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Civil and political rights
  • Economic, social and cultural rights
  • Minorities’ rights
  • Women's rights

HRD's geographical origin

Urban

Current Status

Released on bail

HRD's bio and work

Parisa Azada, born in 1998, is a graduate of Journalism and Communication from Kabul University. She worked with Afghan media for three years and began her human rights activism in 2018. As a reporter and financial manager at the Bolaq Analysts Network, she advocated for justice for the Hazara community.

Following the Taliban’s return, she co-founded the “Afghan Women’s Movement for Justice and Freedom” and led civil protests in Kabul for three years.

In November 2023, Parisa was arrested by Taliban intelligence in Dasht-e-Barchi, Kabul, and detained for over a month.

Detained since

Nov 15, 2023

Date of release

Dec 25, 2023

Charge(s)

  • Anti-government propaganda

Sentence

She was arbitrarily detained for 41 days without due process because of her civil activities and protests against Taliban laws restricting women's rights.

Latitude: 34.51988221044194

Longitude: 69.34802560944671

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Southern Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

Kabul

Location of detention - Facility

Pul e Charkhi Prison, Kabul

Alternative mailing address

Allegations / reports of ill-treatment

Parisa recounted: "During the 41 days of my detention, I experienced various forms of torture — from severe beatings and being hung from the ceiling, to having cold water poured over me, being whipped with cables, suffocated with plastic bags, and subjected to psychological torture. I also endured sexual harassment and obscene verbal abuse. Because of my ethnicity and my Shia faith, I was repeatedly threatened, humiliated, and insulted."

Recent case update / evolution

She was released on bail on 25 December 2023

Any other relevant documents

https://www.khaama.com/parisa-azada-released-from-taliban-prison-after-40-days/

https://amu.tv/73204/

https://kabulnow.com/2023/12/taliban-frees-activist-woman-after-month-of-detention/

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