Afghanistan - France condemns the arrest of the founder of a girls’ school (28 March 2023)

France condemns the Taliban’s March 27th arrest of Matiullah Wesa, the head of the Pen Path organization and an advocate for girls’ education, and calls for his immediate release. We support the efforts made in this regard by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

This decision follows the Taliban’s many violations of basic rights and freedoms for girls and women, who have been banned from attending secondary school for more than a year and from entering universities.

France reiterates its unwavering commitment to the freedom of speech, the universal right to education, and to defending the rights of girls and women. No society can develop in a positive way while denying the rights of women.