Taliban detains six staff members from women's rights group

In Afghanistan, the Taliban authorities have reportedly detained six employees of the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation, a local organization focused on women's and children's rights. This incident occurred on July 18, 2026, when the staff members were summoned to their office to retrieve confiscated laptops and phones. Human Rights Watch has stated that the families of the detained individuals have not been informed about their whereabouts or any potential charges against them. The organization has called for the immediate release of the detainees unless they are charged with a recognizable offense.

This detention follows a troubling pattern of the Taliban's actions against organizations that advocate for women's rights. Just a month prior, the Taliban's security forces had searched and sealed the office of the Women and Children Legal Research Foundation, interrogating staff about their work. The Taliban's approach to women's rights has been increasingly repressive since they regained power in August 2021, with significant restrictions placed on women's education, employment, and public life.

In a related incident, the United Nations reported that two Afghan employees of its mission in the country were also detained by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence. The U.N. has not received any information regarding the charges against these individuals or been able to visit them. The U.N. mission has called on the Taliban to respect the privileges and immunities of U.N. officials and ensure their safety.

The detentions of both the six staff members and the two U.N. employees highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, which has worsened in recent years. The Taliban's actions are seen as an attempt to suppress any efforts to assist women and girls, which they perceive as a threat to their authority. Human Rights Watch has emphasized the need for the Taliban to provide information about the detained individuals and to release them if they are being held unlawfully.