Takhar – August 15, 2026: The Dawn Freedom Movement, in a statement marking the fifth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, has described August 15 as a “dark day in Afghanistan’s contemporary history” and expressed concern over the human rights situation, restrictions imposed on women and girls, and the country’s economic and social conditions.
In its statement, the movement said that on August 15, 2021, when the Taliban once again took control of Afghanistan, the achievements of the Afghan people in the areas of human rights, civil liberties, and women’s rights suffered serious setbacks.
The Dawn Freedom Movement claims that over the past nearly five years, Afghan women and girls have faced widespread restrictions in education, employment, freedom of movement, and participation in public life. The movement also expressed concern over the arrest and suppression of protesting women, restrictions on the activities of civil society activists and journalists, and the increase in certain social harms, including forced marriages and domestic violence.
The statement also criticized Afghanistan’s economic situation, saying that increasing poverty and unemployment have made life more difficult for millions of Afghan citizens, with women and girls bearing a greater share of the consequences.
The Dawn Freedom Movement emphasized that the rights of women and girls—including the right to education, employment, freedom of expression, social participation, and a life with dignity—are “fundamental human rights” and should not be subject to negotiation.
The movement called on the United Nations, the international community, governments, human rights organizations, and the media not to remain silent in the face of what it describes as “systematic human rights violations and gender apartheid in Afghanistan,” and urged them to take practical measures to support the Afghan people, particularly women and girls.
The Dawn Freedom Movement concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to continuing a civil and peaceful struggle for freedom, justice, equality, and human dignity.
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