At least 10 civil society and human rights organizations have issued a joint statement calling on the Taliban to immediately and unconditionally release six employees of the Women and Children’s Rights Research Organization who remain in detention.

In a joint statement published on Sunday, August 30, the organizations said the six employees, who were arrested by the Taliban’s intelligence agency, now face the possibility of being tried in a military court.

The organizations expressed concern over the legal process surrounding the detainees and called for them to be given immediate access to legal counsel and their families. They also urged the Taliban to clearly disclose the charges against the detainees and provide their families and the public with information about their health and well-being.

The signatories further stressed the need to prevent torture, ill-treatment, and any other violations of the detainees’ rights.

The statement also called on the United Nations and the international community to take action to secure the release of the six individuals and to end the detention of human rights activists, journalists, and civil society workers in Afghanistan.

On July 18, Taliban intelligence forces raided the office of the Women and Children’s Rights Research Organization in Kabul and arrested six employees. According to information released about the incident, the Taliban also seized the organization’s equipment, documents, and work materials during the raid.

Zarqa Yaftali, the founder of the Women and Children’s Rights Research Organization, confirmed on August 2 that Taliban intelligence forces had raided the organization’s office and detained six of her colleagues, including two members of her family.