Afghan teenage girls and young women have come forward with disturbing allegations of sexual assault by the Taliban after being arrested for wearing "bad hijab." These reports have emerged just days before a UN summit on Afghanistan, where Afghan women are set to be excluded from discussions on women's rights. According to accounts from the Afghan news service Zan Times, several young women who were detained earlier this year for their attire have revealed that they were subjected to sexual violence and assault while in custody. Tragically, some of these incidents of abuse led to suicide attempts by the victims. The harrowing testimonies shed light on the dire situation faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and action to address these human rights violations.

The United Nations' chief representative in Afghanistan is facing criticism for not including Afghan women in the upcoming initial meeting between the Taliban and representatives from 22 countries in Qatar. The decision has sparked concerns about the exclusion of women from crucial discussions about the future of Afghanistan. The UN envoy has defended the decision, stating that the meeting is focused on political discussions and that there will be future opportunities for Afghan women to participate in the peace process. However, many are questioning why women, who have been disproportionately affected by the conflict in Afghanistan, are not being included in these important discussions. The exclusion of Afghan women from the meeting highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring gender equality and women's participation in peace processes. It is crucial that women's voices are heard and their perspectives are taken into account in efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Shabnam, a prominent TV presenter, bravely confronted the Taliban in a viral online video. As a result, she and two of her siblings were rescued and airlifted to the UK during the evacuation of Afghanistan by Western forces. However, her older sister and parents were unfortunately left behind. Shabnam shares her story with Holly Bancroft, detailing the harrowing experience of standing up to the Taliban and the heartbreaking separation from her family.