Afghanistan

No one knows who killed Islam Bibi. The 37-year old police lieutenant, the most senior female officer in southern Afghanistan’s dangerous Helmand province, was riding a motorcycle to work in early July with her son-in-law, when she was shot and killed.

Armanshahr’s 104th Goftegu public debate – a bridge between the elite and the citizens – marking Woman’s Day, was held in collaboration with the French Institute in Afghanistan and Roya Film House in the hall of Esteqlal School on 4th March 2013. The meeting, attended by nearly 100 people, was addressed by Mr Nooreddin Alawi (sociologist), Ms Homeira Ghaderi (writer and women’s rights activist), Ms Sahar Motallebi(women’s rights activist), Ms Diana Saqeb (filmmaker and women’s rights activist), and Mr Khodadad Besharat (executive director of Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organisation).

Armanshahr’s 103rd Goftegu public debate was held with the title of “One step to collapse? Human rights in deadlock in Afghanistan” in the French Institute on 7 February 2013. This public meeting coincided with the publication of a report by Human Rights Watch titled “Rights at Risk as Military Drawdown Advances” and publication of three new books by Armanshahr: “Human Rights at Crossroads, a joint report of International Federation for Human Rights and Armanshahr Foundation”; “Prison, prisoners and human rights: Politis asia 12-13”; and “War and the city: Politis asia 14-15.”

The 15th anniversary of the establishment of Armanshahr Foundation/Open Asia was celebrated in its 100th Goftegu meeting during which the winners of the first and second Simorgh peace prize were announced.

The 15th anniversary of the establishment of Armanshahr Foundation/Open Asia was celebrated in its 100th Goftegu meeting during which the winners of the first and second Simorgh peace prize were announced. Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan and the National Library of Tajikistan were praised for two decades of publishing services and cultural achievements, respectively. Two thousand books were donated to the National Library.

In celebration of the International Human Rights Day and the Victims Week, Armanshahr’s 99th Goftegu public debate, a bridge between the elite and the citizens, was held in the hall of the French Institute in Afghanistan in cooperation with the Institute and the Open Society Afghanistan on 9 December 2012.

The 98th Goftegu public debate (7th year), a bridge between the elite and the citizens, of Armanshahr Foundation, entitled “Political Violence against Women in War and Peace” was organised in Kabul, on 15 November 2012. The speakers were: Ms. Masouda Karokhi (Parliamentarian), Professor Reza Hosseini (Specialised in women’s affairs). Moderator of the meeting was Jawad Darwaziyan. The speakers discussed such issues as violence against women, the Constitution, Peace Council and women’s participation. The Armanshahr title “Justice for women, in war and peace” was also distributed.

“In the context of footnote”, introduction, critique and reading of the first poetry anthology of Ramin Arabnejad, Panevis – footnote – was the topic of the 95th Goftegu debate (7th year), a bridge between the elite and the citizens, of Armanshahr Foundation. It was held in the Herat office of Armanshahr Foundation on 5 November 2012, which more than 40 young poets and cultural activists attended.

The 92nd Goftegu public debate (6th year), a bridge between the elite and the citizens, of Armanshahr Foundation, entitled “Justice & rights in Balkh” was organised in Mazar-i-Sharif, on 6 September 2012. The discussions centred on the performance of human rights activists in the past 10 years to achieve justice in the country and ‘what should be done’ in the future. Human rights and civil society activists, women’s rights activists, journalists, and university professors attended the meeting.

To mark the arrival of Caravan of 3,000 Armanshahr books in Mazar-i-Sharif, the 91st Goftegu debate (6th year), a bridge between the elite and the citizens, of Armanshahr Foundation, entitled “From Book to Freedom of Expression” was organised in Ibn-e Sina University of the city on 5 September 2012. More than 250 men and women, including university professors and students, attended.