• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: EDUCATION ACTIVIST ARBITRARILY DETAINED (Afghanistan 9.24)

May 16, 2024

Ahmad Fahim Azimi and Seddiqullah Afghan, activists working with the education organization, Fekre Behtar, were arbitrarily arrested at their office in Karta Char, Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, by the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) District 40, on October 17, 2023. While Seddiqullah Afghan was released on April 9 under the Taliban’s supreme leader Eid pardon decision for prisoners, Ahmad Fahim Azimi is imprisoned in Pul-e-Charkhi prison. He is falsely accused of working against the Taliban de-facto authorities, convicted through an unfair trial by the Taliban primary court, and sentenced to one year in prison. His arrest, arbitrary detention, and unfair trial are against international human rights law. He must be immediately and unconditionally released. 

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: July 9, 2024

take action:

  • Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  • Click here to let us know the actions you took on Second Urgent Action 9.24. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

contact information:

Note: USPS will not deliver mail to Afghanistan

Mr. Abdul Haq Wasiq

Director of Intelligence 

General Directorate of Intelligence

Chaharahi Zanbaq

Kabul, Afghanistan

No Domestic Postal Address

Email: [email protected]

Twitter/X: @MoFA_Afg

Note: There are no physical addresses available for this UA,

so please take action through social media and email

sample letter:

Your Excellency,

I am writing to express my deep concern about the arbitrary arrest and detention of education activist, Ahmad Fahim Azimi, who works with Fekre Behtar, an organization which is recognized for its work with the Afghan girls’ robotics team. The organization is also a vocal critic of the education restrictions the Taliban imposes on women and girls.

I am gravely concerned that Azimi is reportedly subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, including sleep deprivation and solitary confinement.

I therefore urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Ahmad Fahim Azimi. Further, I urge you to stop the practices of abduction, arbitrary detention, and torture and other ill treatment of people working to defend human rights including those peacefully campaigning for the right to education.

Yours sincerely, 

[YOUR NAME]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: