RASC News Agency: The Roshaniya organization, a human rights group advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, has reported that the Taliban arrested two Afghanistani LGBTQ+ activists at Kabul International Airport as they attempted to leave the country for Tehran. According to Nemat Sadat, a human rights activist and executive director of Roshaniya, the detainees, identified as M. Rawosh, a gay Afghanistani citizen, and A. Saberi, were apprehended by Taliban intelligence officers while preparing to board their flight. They had been traveling alongside P. Hosseini, Rawosh’s same-sex partner, who, due to the presence of a male companion, managed to avoid arrest and continue his journey to Tehran.
Sadat revealed that Roshaniya had spent months coordinating the activists’ safe evacuation, investing over $5,000 in the effort. However, the Taliban security forces reportedly uncovered the detainees’ identities after inspecting their mobile phones, ultimately preventing their departure. Additionally, a third individual who had been assisting in the evacuation effort was also arrested. Following the arrests, Roshaniya attempted to secure the activists’ release through their families, but their relatives refused to cooperate, leaving them vulnerable to further persecution.
The organization has received conflicting reports regarding M. Rawosh’s fate. While some sources claim he remains in Taliban custody, others suggest he has been released. Alarmingly, certain neighbors have speculated that he may have attempted suicide. As of now, neither the Taliban nor the detainees’ families have issued any official statements regarding their arrest or current condition.
