A 22-year-old Afghan woman detained for operating a taekwondo training facility for girls has been released following a 13-day imprisonment, according to confirmation from Taliban judicial authorities. Khadija Ahmadzada, residing near Herat in western Afghanistan, faced detention earlier this month after officials from the Ministry of Vice and Virtue identified multiple violations at her establishment.
Taliban authorities cited three primary infractions: inadequate hijab compliance, the presence of musical elements, and gender mixing within the training facility. A ministry spokesperson indicated that Ahmadzada had received several prior warnings before enforcement action was taken.
The case garnered significant international attention after United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett amplified the situation through social media channels, simultaneously highlighting the ongoing detention of female journalist Nazira Rashidi in Kunduz. The Taliban government maintains that Rashidi’s detention is unrelated to her professional activities.
Since regaining control in 2021, Taliban authorities have systematically closed women’s sports facilities nationwide, citing the need to establish environments compliant with their interpretation of Islamic law. No sports clubs for women have resumed operations as of January 2026, and female athletes remain barred from official competition.
This incident represents another manifestation of the comprehensive restrictions imposed on Afghan women, including severe limitations on educational opportunities, employment access, and strict dress code enforcement. The Taliban’s supreme court ultimately ordered Ahmadzada’s release on January 22, though her current whereabouts remain undisclosed.