A group of human rights activists has issued a statement calling for the immediate release of Afghan civil society activist Ahmad Mojtaba Mohammadi, who is currently detained by the Taliban.
In a protest video recorded in Tehran, the group claimed that Mohammadi was forcibly deported from Iran to Afghanistan, where he was then arrested by Taliban authorities.
“His detention is a clear violation of fundamental human rights and international conventions,” the statement reads. “Silence in the face of such repression is complicity in silencing the voices of justice in Afghanistan.”
The activists urged international institutions, human rights organizations, and “the awakened conscience of the world” to take urgent and effective action to secure Mohammadi’s release.
Mohammadi, a prominent human rights and civil society advocate, was arrested by the Taliban in early August.
Several global organizations have warned host countries against deporting individuals back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett previously stated that Afghanistan is “not a safe place for anyone” and called for a reassessment of international policies toward Afghanistan’s refugee population.
