Afghan Taekwondo Instructor Faces Stoning Threat After Secret Training Sessions
A young Afghan woman is believed to be facing the horrific prospect of death by stoning after being detained by Taliban authorities for secretly training girls in taekwondo, according to human rights activists. Khadija Ahmadzada, aged 22, was arrested by the regime's so-called 'morality' forces on January 10th when they discovered her covert operation.
Secret Training in Hidden Courtyard
The arrest occurred after Taliban officers uncovered that Ahmadzada was defying the comprehensive ban on women participating in sports by teaching students in a concealed courtyard at her family home. British-Afghan social activist Shabnam Nasimi has revealed there are mounting fears that the young coach may have already received an extreme sentence for her quiet act of defiance.
'There are persistent rumors from individuals close to Khadija that the court has ruled on an extreme death sentence - specifically stoning - for the crime of practicing and playing sport,' Nasimi stated in a video message shared on Instagram. 'For those unfamiliar with this barbaric practice, stoning involves hurling stones at a living human being until they bleed, collapse and ultimately perish.'
Family Left in Complete Darkness
Nasimi explained that Ahmadzada's family has been left completely in the dark regarding her whereabouts and legal status since her detention. According to witness accounts, Taliban morality officers conducted a raid on Ahmadzada's home in western Afghanistan, forcibly dragging her from the property during the operation.
The 22-year-old was reportedly detained alongside her father, with both individuals held for more than a week without communication. Nasimi warned that international pressure and global attention may represent the young woman's only realistic chance of survival in this perilous situation.
Broader Pattern of Repression
This alleged arrest follows the Taliban's imposition of sweeping restrictions on women and girls since their return to power in 2021, including a comprehensive prohibition on female participation in any sporting activities. The regime has declared sports 'un-Islamic' for women, insisting they should remain out of public view entirely.
Since these restrictions were implemented, female athletes across Afghanistan have been forced to operate underground or flee into exile. Those who continue to train secretly face constant risk of arrest, detention, and severe punishment from the regime's morality police apparatus.
International Response and Growing Concerns
Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, has urgently called upon the Taliban to ensure Ahmadzada's safety and secure her immediate release. He highlighted this detention as part of a broader pattern of intimidation targeting women professionals throughout the country.
The detention has sparked protests from Afghan women's rights activists and sports figures, who condemn the arrest as a fundamental affront to basic freedoms. Activists emphasize that Ahmadzada's case illustrates the extreme dangers confronting women who defy the ban, even within supposedly private settings.
Expanding Restrictions on Women's Lives
Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, daily existence for Afghan women has been systematically reshaped by an ever-expanding catalogue of bans and restrictions. Female-only gyms and sports centres have been forcibly closed, while women have been prohibited from exercising in public spaces altogether.
The clampdown extends far beyond leisure activities, with women banned from secondary schools and universities, restricted from numerous employment opportunities, and compelled to follow stringent dress codes whenever they venture outside their homes. Amusement parks and recreational facilities have been either segregated or completely closed to women, with officials asserting that mixed-gender recreation violates their interpretation of Islamic principles.
Human rights organizations report that this steady erosion of fundamental freedoms has left countless women largely confined to their homes, living in constant fear of punishment for perceived violations of Taliban edicts. It is within this oppressive climate that activists now warn Khadija Ahmadzada's very life hangs in the balance.
