rferl--2020-04-03--Top EU Court Rules Budapest, Warsaw, Prague Violated Migrant Quotas

The European Court of Justice ( ECJ ) ruled on April 2 that Poland , Hungary , and the Czech Republic violated EU law by refusing to accept asylum seekers under a 2015 migrant redistribution scheme .
The European Union ’ s top court found all three countries failed to implement a decision by the bloc to share the burden of relocating 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy at the height of the 2015-16 migrant crisis .
The migrant redistribution scheme ended in September 2017 with fewer than 40,000 migrants being relocated .
European Commission President Ursula von der @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling is `` important . ''
`` It is referring to the past , but it will give us guidance to the future , '' she said .
Warsaw , Budapest , and Prague opposed the quota system from the beginning , arguing that accepting the predominantly Syrian and Iraqi refugees would have posed a security threat .
The ECJ rejected those arguments .
`` Those member states can rely neither on their responsibilities concerning the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security , nor on the alleged malfunctioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that mechanism , '' the Luxembourg-based court ruled .
Instead of a blanket refusal to accept any asylum seekers , the court said the three states should have followed a case-by-case investigation for each applicant to prove they posed a security threat .
The court noted that Poland failed to take in 100 migrants it had promised to accept , while the Czech Republic accepted just 12 of 50 migrants , and Hungary didn ’ t offer to take in any asylum seekers .
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis downplayed the April 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fines being imposed against all three countries .
`` We lost , but that 's not important , '' Babis said .
`` The important thing is we do n't have to pay anything , '' he told state news agency CTK .
Babis said the `` fundamental '' point is that the Czech Republic `` will not take in any migrants and that the quotas have since disappeared , and that is largely thanks to us . ''
Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller said the verdict `` wo n't have any practical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU struck a deal with Turkey in 2016 aimed at preventing migrants from crossing from Turkey into Bulgaria and Greece .
However , nearly four years later , the EU is struggling to develop a coordinated mechanism to process and redistribute migrants from countries like Greece and Italy .
With reporting by AFP , Reuters , CTK , and dpa

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled on April 2 that Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic violated EU law by refusing to accept asylum seekers under a 2015 migrant redistribution scheme.
The European Union’s top court found all three countries failed to implement a decision by the bloc to share the burden of relocating 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy at the height of the 2015-16 migrant crisis.
The migrant redistribution scheme ended in September 2017 with fewer than 40,000 migrants being relocated.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on April 2 that the ruling is "important."
"It is referring to the past, but it will give us guidance to the future," she said.
Warsaw, Budapest, and Prague opposed the quota system from the beginning, arguing that accepting the predominantly Syrian and Iraqi refugees would have posed a security threat. The ECJ rejected those arguments.
"Those member states can rely neither on their responsibilities concerning the maintenance of law and order and the safeguarding of internal security, nor on the alleged malfunctioning of the relocation mechanism to avoid implementing that mechanism," the Luxembourg-based court ruled.
Instead of a blanket refusal to accept any asylum seekers, the court said the three states should have followed a case-by-case investigation for each applicant to prove they posed a security threat.
The court noted that Poland failed to take in 100 migrants it had promised to accept, while the Czech Republic accepted just 12 of 50 migrants, and Hungary didn’t offer to take in any asylum seekers.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis downplayed the April 2 court ruling, which could result in fines being imposed against all three countries.
"We lost, but that's not important," Babis said. "The important thing is we don't have to pay anything," he told state news agency CTK.
Babis said the "fundamental" point is that the Czech Republic "will not take in any migrants and that the quotas have since disappeared, and that is largely thanks to us."
Hungarian Justice Minister Judith Vargas called the court’s ruling "discriminatory.”
Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller said the verdict "won't have any practical importance.”
Europe's crisis eased after the EU struck a deal with Turkey in 2016 aimed at preventing migrants from crossing from Turkey into Bulgaria and Greece.
However, nearly four years later, the EU is struggling to develop a coordinated mechanism to process and redistribute migrants from countries like Greece and Italy.
With reporting by AFP, Reuters, CTK, and dpa


rferl--2020-04-03--Trump Says He Brokered Saudi-Russian Oil Deal, But Details Scant

U.S. President Donald Trump says he brokered a deal with Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut oil output and end a steep decline in oil prices amid the global coronavirus pandemic .
Trump said he spoke with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on April 2 , but details of how the cuts would work were unclear .
`` I expect & hope that they will be cutting back approximately 10 Million Barrels , and maybe substantially more which , if it happens , will be GREAT for the oil & gas industry !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Russia and Saudi Arabia could cut output by 10 million to 15 million barrels per day -- an unprecedented amount representing 10 percent to 15 percent of global supply .
Such a cut would require the participation of nations outside of OPEC and its allies .
The U.S. president said he did not make any concessions to Saudi Arabia and Russia , such as agreeing to a U.S. domestic production cut , in brokering the deal .
Russia and Saudi Arabia have been at odds since failing early last month to agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus spread around the globe .
The pandemic has worsened since , freezing economic activity and sending oil prices into a tailspin .
Russian Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak said on April 3 that Moscow was no longer planning to raise output and was ready to cooperate with OPEC and other producers to stabilize the market .
Saudi Arabia has called for an emergency meeting of OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers , an informal grouping known as OPEC+ , state media reported , saying it aimed to reach a fair agreement to stabilize oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with U.S. oil industry executives at the White House on April 3 .
With reporting by Reuters , Bloomberg , and AP

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated that there can be no advancement in the relationship between the United States and Afghanistan's Taliban rulers unless there is an improvement in the treatment of women in the country.
Speaking to reporters on August 15, the two-year anniversary of the Taliban’s seizure of power in Kabul, Blinken said the United States continues to work to hold the Taliban accountable for the commitments that it's made, particularly when it comes to the rights of women and girls.
"We've been very clear with the Taliban -- and dozens of countries around the world have been very clear -- that the path to any more normal relationship between the Taliban and other countries will be blocked unless and until the rights of women and girls among other things are actually supported," Blinken said.
No country has recognized the Taliban-led government, and the United States has avoided direct economic engagement in part over the treatment of women and girls, who have seen their rights drastically curbed by the hard-line Islamists. This includes a ban on women working in local and international nongovernmental organizations and a ban on education beyond the sixth grade.
The Taliban stormed back to power in August 2021 after President Joe Biden withdrew U.S. troops under the terms of an agreement reached in February 2020 between the Taliban and the administration of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
Blinken defended the pullout and said the United States was not focused on other priorities.
"The decision to withdraw from Afghanistan was an incredibly difficult one, but also the right one," Blinken said. "We ended America's longest war. For the first time in 20 years, we don't have another generation of young Americans going to fight and die."
A number of international human rights organizations earlier on August 15 called the Taliban's two years of rule shameful and worrying.
Amnesty International and several other international human rights organizations demanded in a statement an effective response to the situation, noting the Taliban's strict decrees against human rights in Afghanistan, especially against women and girls.
The organizations said in a statement that in the past two years, the Taliban has increasingly imposed harmful policies against women and girls and religious and ethnic minorities that clearly violate Afghanistan's obligations under international human rights law.
The Taliban has previously rejected reports on the treatment of women as propaganda of international organizations. The militant group's leaders have said they have strengthened all the rights of women in Afghanistan in light of Islamic principles.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the chief spokesman for the Taliban, said in an interview with the AP marking the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover of the country that the Taliban views its rule of Afghanistan as open-ended and as drawing legitimacy from Islamic law. He also suggested a ban on female education will remain in place.
Female activist Soheila Yousefi calls the situation alarming and wants the world to pay attention.
"The international community should take serious action in this regard because the world chose to be silent in these two years and did not take any practical steps. Our request is that they should look at the current situation in Afghanistan, then take a serious and comprehensive review."
The Taliban did not respond to Radio Azadi's questions before the release of the report, but the rulers have spoken of strengthening human rights in Afghanistan, especially the rights of women and girls, according to Islamic principles.
With reporting by AP and AFP


rferl--2020-04-03--COVID-19: First Death In Kyrgyzstan; Azerbaijanis Must Text Before Going Out

The global death toll has surpassed 53,000 with over 1 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness .
Kyrgyzstan has recorded its first official fatality from COVID-19 after a man in the southern region of Osh who had tested positive for the coronavirus died .
Health officials said on April 3 that the 61-year-old , who had `` serious co-existing diseases , '' came back to the country from a trip abroad and had been placed under observation after becoming ill .
He later tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hospital .
“ To be honest , when he was buried , none of his relatives was with him , ” district commander Malik Nurdinov said , referring to the limited ability of people to move after the government declared a state of emergency in a number of cities , including the capital , Bishkek .
Kyrgyz officials said that the number of coronavirus cases in the Central Asian nation had reached 130 .
In neighboring Kazakhstan , Defense Minister Nurlan Ermekbaev said on April 3 that thousands of reservists will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help combat the coronavirus outbreak and to also provide temporary employment to those who have lost jobs in lockdowns and business closures .
Health authorities in the oil-rich country said that as of April 3 , the number of coronavirus cases was 453 , including three deaths .
In another Central Asian nation , Uzbekistan , the number of coronavirus cases reached 221 .
Two persons have succumbed to the virus there .
In two other countries in the region , Tajikistan and Turkmenistan , officials have not officially registered any coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the United States accepted medical equipment from Russia and he had no concerns about the gesture being used as propaganda .
Trump said on April 2 that the equipment was offered by Vladimir Putin during his phone call with the Russian president earlier this week to discuss the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and that he considered it a “ very nice gesture.
” “ I could have said 'no thank you ' or I could have said 'thank you ' and…I said I ’ ll take it , ” Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States confirmed that a Russian plane carrying the supplies , including ventilators and personal protection equipment , arrived on April 1 in New York City .
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the items had been purchased but did not say how much the United States paid for the equipment .
Trump said he was “ not even a little bit ” concerned about Russia using the gesture for propaganda .
Putin “ offered a lot of medical , high-quality stuff that I accepted and that may save a lot of lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll take it every day.
” Russia 's deputy UN ambassador , Dmitry Polyansky , was quoted by Interfax as saying that while nothing has been agreed , it “ is not ruled out ” that further shipments may follow .
Trump also said there could be more shipments .
Putin `` would send more aid if we asked for it , '' he said .
Kremlin critics questioned why Moscow would send equipment abroad at a time when there are questions about it meeting its own needs .
`` I thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joke but turns out it 's true .
Russia really did SELL the U.S. masks and medical equipment at a time when doctors and nurses all over the country are working without masks and infecting one another .
It 's monstrous .
Putin 's mad , '' opposition leader and vocal Putin critic Alexei Navalny said on Twitter .
In Russia , where the accuracy of official data has been questioned , the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has jumped in recent days , but still appears low compared with other European nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ puts the total number of cases at 3,548 as of April 2 , with 30 deaths .
Azerbaijanis will be able to venture into the streets only after sending a text message with their identification number and the reason for their trip under additional requirements announced on April 2 to help control the spread of the coronavirus .
Beginning on April 5 , Azerbaijanis will have to text their ID number along with a number corresponding to the reason for their trip to 8103 , officials said .
The text message is free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for medical services ; 2 is for food , pharmacy , bank , and postal services ; and 3 is for trips to attend the funeral of a close relative .
Azerbaijan last week tightened its quarantine rules to slow the spread of the coronavirus , barring the movement of vehicles between regions and cities across the country , with some exceptions , including ambulances , social services , and agricultural vehicles .
Baku 's metro system is operating only five hours a day , and , as in much of the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and shops -- except supermarkets , grocery stores , and pharmacies – are closed .
The South Caucasus country has reported 400 coronavirus cases , with five deaths .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Azerbaijani , Kyrgyz , Kazakh , and Uzbek services , Rossia-24 , Interfax , Reuters , AFP , and TASS

The global death toll has surpassed 54,000 with over 1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
Here's a roundup of developments in RFE/RL's broadcast countries.
Iran
President Hassan Rohani says U.S. sanctions have not hampered Iran's ability to fight the Middle East's worst outbreak of the coronavirus.
"We did not face a problem due to cohesion, good management, skilled and professional medical staff, and all of these came together," Rohani was quoted as saying during a cabinet meeting on April 2.
He also said that according to the country's Central Bank governor, "Iran has no problem in providing foreign currency until the end of the [Iranian] year," in March.
U.S. sanctions have cut off oil revenue and devastated the Iranian economy, causing the national currency, the rial, to fall in value.
"We have a good reserve of essential commodities for the next months and agriculture and trade ministers have given very promising reports for the situation during the coming months," Rohani said.
His comments come amid increased calls by Iranian officials, as well as a number of countries, the United Nations, and several U.S. lawmakers for the United States to ease sanctions, which some say have made it difficult for Tehran to contain the outbreak that has officially killed nearly 3,300 Iranians, including some 50 health-care workers and several politicians.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on Twitter that Rohani's comments were a confirmation of Washington's stand that U.S.-led economic sanctions do not hamper Iran as it battles the coronavirus pandemic.
"We have repeatedly said that U.S. sanctions do not impede the Iranian regime's response to the COVID-19 crisis," Ortagus tweeted.
Meanwhile, former U.S. Vice President and Democratic Party presidential contender Joe Biden on April 2 joined those calling for an easing of U.S. sanctions reimposed in 2018 after U.S. Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program.
"In times of global crisis, America should lead," Biden said in a statement released on April 2.
"We should be the first to offer help to people who are hurting or in danger. That's who we are. That's who we've always been," he added.
While noting that Tehran "failed to respond effectively to this crisis," Biden said that "it makes no sense, in a global health crisis, to compound that failure with cruelty by inhibiting access to needed humanitarian assistance."
Iranian authorities have been criticized for a slow initial response to the pandemic and a failure to quarantine the city of Qom, where the coronavirus outbreak erupted in February.
Recently, Tehran has enforced tougher measures, including a ban on intercity travel and strict social-distancing rules, to try to contain the pandemic.
Biden said the United States should take a number of steps, including issuing licenses to pharmaceutical and medical-device companies and creating a dedicated channel for international banks to support Iran in its fight against COVID-19.
Trump has previously offered Iran humanitarian assistance.
Asked on April 2 whether he would consider easing sanctions on Iran amid the coronavirus outbreak, Trump told reporters that Tehran had not made a formal request.
"They haven't asked us to do that," he said, adding that "If they want to meet, we'd love to do that."
In his statement, Biden said the Trump administration's offer of aid to Iran was "insufficient" if not backed by concrete steps to ensure that Washington is not exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.
"Whatever our many, many disagreements with the Iranian government, it's the right and humane thing to do," Biden said, adding that Tehran should also make a humanitarian gesture and allow the U.S. citizens it has imprisoned to return home.
According to Iran's official figures released on April 3, the death toll from the coronavirus crisis is 3,294 people while 53,183 cases of infection have been confirmed. Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said recently that 3,956 of the patients were in intensive care.
The real numbers of infected and dead are believed to be significantly higher.
An exclusive report by Radio Farda based on statements made by local officials and medical experts puts the number of those infected with the virus in Iran at more than 70,000 and the death toll at 4,762 as of April 2.
Iranian leaders have called for the removal of the "unjust" and "illegal" sanctions while rejecting Washington's offer of help. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also suggested that Washington could be behind the pandemic, which has killed more than 6,000 Americans and infected nearly 250,000.
Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund for $5 billion in emergency funds to battle the coronavirus outbreak.
Russia
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has embarked on a tour around Moscow with one of Russia's most revered icons in an effort to free the Russian capital from coronavirus.
The motorcade carrying Patriarch Kirill and the Tenderness icon of the Mother of God on April 3 drove along the Moscow ring highway, which is more than 100 kilometers long.
Kirill, 73, called on believers to stay at home and join him in prayer to get rid of the coronavirus pandemic as the capital is under strict lockdown.
He is set to serve the morning service at Moscow's Yelokhovo Epiphany Cathedral on April 4.
A total of 4,149 coronavirus cases have been registered across Russia as of April 3, with 34 deaths, according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University in the United States.
Critics say they believe the real number is higher and have accused Russian authorities of underreporting the extent of the outbreak in the country.
To slow the spread of the virus, most of Russia's regions have implemented self-isolation measures and closed nonessential businesses.
The Russian Orthodox Church was against the closure of churches at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, but Kirill has recently instructed believers to pray at home.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States accepted medical equipment from Russia and he had no concerns about the gesture being used as propaganda.
Trump said on April 2 that the equipment was offered by Vladimir Putin during his phone call with the Russian president earlier this week to discuss the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and that he considered it a “very nice gesture.”
“I could have said 'no thank you' or I could have said 'thank you' and...I said I'll take it," Trump said at a White House briefing.
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The United States confirmed that a Russian plane carrying the supplies, including ventilators and personal protection equipment, arrived on April 1 in New York City.
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the items had been purchased but did not say how much the United States paid for the equipment.
Trump said he was "not even a little bit" concerned about Russia using the gesture for propaganda.
Putin "offered a lot of medical, high-quality stuff that I accepted and that may save a lot of lives," Trump said. "I'll take it every day."
Russia's deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, was quoted by Interfax as saying that while nothing has been agreed, it "is not ruled out" that further shipments may follow.
Trump also said there could be more shipments. Putin "would send more aid if we asked for it," he said.
Kremlin critics questioned why Moscow would send equipment abroad at a time when there are questions about it meeting its own needs.
"I thought this was a stupid April Fool's joke but turns out it's true. Russia really did SELL the U.S. masks and medical equipment at a time when doctors and nurses all over the country are working without masks and infecting one another. It's monstrous. Putin's mad," opposition leader and vocal Putin critic Aleksei Navalny said on Twitter.
In Russia, where the accuracy of official data has been questioned, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has jumped in recent days, but still appears low compared with other European countries.
Central Asia
Kyrgyzstan has recorded its first official fatality from COVID-19 after a man in the southern region of Osh who had tested positive for the coronavirus died.
Health officials said on April 3 that the 61-year-old, who had "serious co-existing diseases," came back to the country from a trip abroad and had been placed under observation after becoming ill. He later tested positive for the virus and was admitted to a hospital.
“To be honest, when he was buried, none of his relatives was with him,” district commander Malik Nurdinov said, referring to the limited ability of people to move after the government declared a state of emergency in a number of cities, including the capital, Bishkek.
RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region.
Kyrgyz officials said that the number of coronavirus cases in the Central Asian nation had reached 130.
In neighboring Kazakhstan, Defense Minister Nurlan Ermekbaev said on April 3 that thousands of reservists will be called for up to three months to help combat the coronavirus outbreak and to also provide temporary employment to those who have lost jobs in lockdowns and business closures.
Health authorities in the oil-rich country said that as of April 3, the number of coronavirus cases was 453, including three deaths.
In another Central Asian nation, Uzbekistan, the number of coronavirus cases reached 221. Two persons have succumbed to the virus there.
In two other countries in the region, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, officials have not officially registered any coronavirus cases so far.
Turkmenistan
During a televised cabinet meeting, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov for the first time publicly used the word "coronavirus."
"Coronavirus is raging in the world" and is having a negative effect on the gas-rich country's economy, Berdymukhammedov said on April 3.
The Turkmen leader also "ordered to take measures to counter the spread of coronavirus," according to state TV.
He did not specifically admit that the country was facing an outbreak of the respiratory illness, however.
The autocratic former Soviet republic has been largely silent about the pandemic and has not yet reported any coronavirus cases, raising international suspicions.
The authorities "are avoiding use of the word 'coronavirus' as much as possible in order to deter the spread of information about the pandemic," according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
"By banning use of the word 'coronavirus' on the streets and never mentioning it in official documents and in the media...Turkmenistan's government is putting its citizens in danger,” the Paris-based media-freedom watchdog said.
Turkmenistan's tightly controlled economy has been struggling for months, with government revenues depleted in part to unsuccessful energy deals and low global prices for natural gas, the country's main export.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijanis will be able to venture into the streets only after sending a text message with their identification number and the reason for their trip under additional requirements announced on April 2 to help control the spread of the coronavirus.
Beginning on April 5, Azerbaijanis will have to text their ID number along with a number corresponding to the reason for their trip to 8103, officials said. The text message is free of charge.
The number 1 is for medical services; 2 is for food, pharmacy, bank, and postal services; and 3 is for trips to attend the funeral of a close relative.
Azerbaijan last week tightened its quarantine rules to slow the spread of the coronavirus, barring the movement of vehicles between regions and cities across the country, with some exceptions, including ambulances, social services, and agricultural vehicles.
Baku's subway system is operating only five hours a day, and, as in much of the world, restaurants, cafes, teahouses, and shops -- except supermarkets, grocery stores, and pharmacies – are closed.
The South Caucasus country has reported 400 coronavirus cases, with five deaths.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, and Uzbek services, Rossia-24, Interfax, Reuters, AFP, and TASS


rferl--2020-04-03--Iranian Prisoner Dies After Reportedly Being Beaten By Guards

The United Nations says it is `` horrified '' by the death of a juvenile offender in Iran , following reported beatings by prison guards after inmates protested to be released due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ( OHCHR ) said on April 3 it had received information that Daniel Zeinolabedini died after he was reportedly `` badly beaten '' following a prison riot in Iran 's West Azerbaijan Province on March 28 .
Detainees at Mahabad prison were protesting against their `` prison conditions and the failure of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 pandemic , '' spokesman Rupert Colville said in a virtual press briefing .
Media in Iran , which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic , have reported unrest in several prisons , despite the temporary release of some 100,000 inmates to curb prison overcrowding .
There has been no report of the alleged incident in West Azerbaijan Province .
Zeinolabedini , who was on death row for a murder he allegedly committed in September 2017 at the age of 17 , has claimed his innocence , according to the UN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solitary confinement and beaten by security officials at Mahabad prison , before being transferred to Miandoab prison in the same region , where he also suffered abuse .
`` His family said he called them on March 31 to tell them he had been badly beaten , could hardly breathe , and desperately needed help .
His death was confirmed on April 2 , '' Colville said .
The rights office said it was `` particularly shocked '' because Zeinolabedini 's conviction and death sentence were upheld by Iran 's Supreme Court , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentences for crimes committed by minors .
The spokesman called on the Iranian authorities to conduct an `` independent and impartial '' investigation into the death and hold those responsible to account .
Colville expressed concern about at the fate of `` six other people who were also reportedly beaten during the riot on March 28 and taken to Miandoab prison , '' and urged the authorities `` to take all measures to protect their lives . ''
With reporting by Reuters and AFP

A polytechnic school in Russia’s Tatarstan, a region some 900 kilometers east of Moscow, is using manufacturing facilities that are part of a nearby special economic zone to assemble Iranian attack drones and are increasingly turning to underage students as laborers, many of whom often work in exploitative conditions.
The revelations at Alabuga Polytechnic University raise troubling implications about the lengths that Russian authorities are going to in order to boost the war effort and how the advanced Iranian weaponry -- which is increasingly used to bombard Ukrainian cities and has only recently begun to be manufactured inside Russia -- could contribute to escalating tensions and rising civilian casualties.
The use of underage students as drone factory workers and the details of the manufacturing facilities were first reported by Russian independent media outlets Protokol and Razvorot, which published a series of investigations in July.
Since then, RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities has spoken with students who describe grueling working conditions and interviewed dozens of parents whose children have been enrolled at Alabuga Polytechnic University -- some as young at 15 -- who say that their children were forced to work exceedingly long hours, often without proper breaks or meals, and under hostile conditions that have deeply affected their mental health.
“My son enrolled and 2 1/2 months later he called for me to take him away,” Zhanna, who asked to be identified only by her first name to protect against reprisals for speaking about the operation, told RFE/RL. “He said to me on the phone, ‘Come and get me or I’ll die,’ so I picked him up immediately.”
Zhanna, who asked that her underage son’s name also not be used, says that she sent him from Nizhny Novgorod to study at Alabuga Polytechnic University in 2022 because of its reputation as a leading technical institution inside Russia.
The school offered students -- often between the ages of 15-18 -- an opportunity to get vocational training as part of a dual program that combines a classroom education with practical work experience. Students were also promised an opportunity to work and earn a locally competitive salary of up to 70,000 rubles ($700) a month as part of the work experience program that could further their career growth.
Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.
But, instead, those enrolled were encouraged and in some cases pressured into working at the drone facility, where the salaries of the mostly underage laborers are contingent on meeting tough production quotas.
“This is a textbook definition of what constitutes exploitation,” Sergei Podsytnik, an investigative journalist at Protokol who worked on the series of reports, told RFE/RL. “[Students] assemble drones, with the work taking priority over their studies.”
The pressure to fulfill these quotas has allegedly led to strenuous back-to-back days -- with some shifts lasting up to 15 hours -- with little time for sleep or adequate sustenance. Overtime work is often unpaid, further highlighting potential labor violations. Exhausted students also reported not always meeting their quotas, which led to them not earning the salary initially promised by the school. Many students came from disadvantaged backgrounds and relied on their earnings to cover costs for tuition, room, and board and would send the remainder home.
Other parents, such as Marina, said she decided to take her daughter out of the program when she discovered that she was working in apparent unsafe conditions and that staff from the school had instructed students not to tell their parents about the drone assembly work.
“This was the last straw for me,” Marina, who also asked for her identity to be concealed, told RFE/RL. “This is a dangerous production process that involves dangerous chemicals. They also forbid the kids from telling everything to their parents.”
RFE/RL sent multiple requests for comment to various staff and administrators at Alabuga Polytechnic University but received no replies.
Making Iranian Drones In Russia
The complicated and concerning dynamic at Alabuga Polytechnic University stems from growing military cooperation between Iran and Russia that has accelerated since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Iran has said it provided drones to Russia before the start of the war, but not since. However, U.S. intelligence officials have warned for months of continued deliveries and deepening cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, saying the two sides were exploring how to set up a manufacturing plant for Iranian drones inside Russia.
According to The Wall Street Journal, an Iranian delegation visited Yelabuga in Tatarstan on January 5, touring a potential site for such a factory at the Alabuga special economic zone close to Alabuga Polytechnic University. U.S. officials released satellite images in April of the plant being built.
Russia already possesses an array of unarmed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, which are used mainly for surveillance and artillery spotting, but has turned increasingly to Tehran for attack drones.
After being forced to abandon Ukrainian territory that its troops captured in the early stretches of the war, Moscow shifted to a strategy of relentless air assaults on Ukrainian cities. These attacks often rely on a combination of cruise missiles and self-detonating drones packed with explosives to knock out electricity and running water for the civilian population in Ukraine.
So far, Iran has provided Russia mostly with so-called "suicide" drones, known as the Shahed-136, that contain a modest amount of explosives that can detonate when the drones crash into targets, military experts say.
In acquiring its own domestic assembly line, Russia could dramatically increase its stockpile of the relatively inexpensive but highly destructive weapons systems.
WATCH: Russia has resorted to using Shahed-136 drones from Iran in its war on Ukraine. Ukraine says it's already downed many of the drones, which work by slamming into their intended target, laden with explosives. Ordinary Ukrainians say they can already recognize the sound of the drones, which use two-stroke engines like lawnmowers or motorbikes. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia.
The arrangement also offers substantial economic and political benefits for Iran, which has sought to portray itself as neutral in the Ukraine war. The appearance of Iranian-made drones over Ukrainian cities, however, has triggered threats of new economic sanctions from the West. The United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have also all issued rules in recent months designed to cut off the flow of drone components to Russia and Iran.
The Washington Post reported in November 2022, citing unnamed U.S. intelligence officials, that the agreement to deliver Iranian drone schematics and materials for manufacture in Russia resulted from Iranian leaders believing that the arrangement would allow Tehran to avert new sanctions.
Foreign Recruitment And Patriotic Education
Alabuga Polytechnic University is formally not a college. All of its students are officially enrolled at nearby Yelabuga Polytechnic College, with the Alabuga institution existing on paper as a specialized program for students looking to break into high-tech industries.
Currently, about 1,000 students are studying at Alabuga Polytechnic University, with several hundred of them -- most of whom are between the ages of 15 and 17 -- involved in assembling the Iranian drones.
In addition to the work on the drones, there are other signs that point to blurred lines in Russia between the education system and the country’s military amid the war in Ukraine.
According to current and former Alabuga Polytechnic University students, team-building and organized extracurricular activities through the school often take on a “patriotic” character that may be designed to expose students to official government narratives of international events or echo talking points from state television.
Organized paintball games have become a mainstay for students, especially first-year arrivals, in which they are encouraged to compete against one another and then play together against more experienced outside players. Teachers and administration officials regularly refer to paintball as being part of a “patriotic” education needed to complement the technical aspect of their studies.
In one instance, a group of new students competed in paintball as Soviet soldiers against outside players who were dressed as troops from Nazi Germany in a capture-the-flag competition meant to simulate the World War II battle of Stalingrad. According to one student, the Nazi flag contained the compass symbol used by the NATO military alliance instead of the swastika used by Nazi Germany.
Other instances of political teachings from staff are more direct. In a recording obtained by RFE/RL from June 16, a senior administrator can be heard telling the teenagers that NATO launched a hybrid war against Russia back in 2011 and that it has slowly become more overt. The man then goes on to tell students that their hard work and exceeding long days at the drone factory are part of a nationwide struggle against the West and that their patriotism will be rewarded.
Several students and parents identified the man in the recording as Timur Shagivaleev, the director-general of the special economic zone where Alabuga Polytechnic University and the drone factory operate.
Shagivaleev did not respond to RFE/RL’s request for comment.
The man in the recording then goes on to tell students not to take holidays and to continue working “even if it's mom's birthday,” before ending his speech with, “Long live our great country.”
WATCH: Amid a new wave of Russian drone attacks on Ukraine, analysts in Kyiv are gaining useful intelligence from a collection of downed Russian aerial weapons. They have been studying the remains of Iranian Shahed drones and Russian Kinzhal missiles, among others.
Multiple current and former students told RFE/RL that students who work in the drone factory are often praised by staff, while those who have refused or asked to be reassigned due to the high workload are often publicly shamed. In some instances -- according to recordings heard by RFE/RL -- staff even encourage students to bully others who are not deemed “patriotic” enough.
According to Protokol and Razvorot’s investigations, Alabuga Polytechnic University has also turned toward recruiting foreign students to enroll. The majority of them come from African countries, but also from Central Asia and Azerbaijan, where they are promised “world class” salaries as part of the dual-track world experience program.
However, these foreign students are then given low-skill and menial tasks around the campus and the special economic zone, such as janitorial work, and are also paid lower salaries than initially promised.
Written by Reid Standish based on reporting by RFE/RL’s Idel.Realities


rferl--2020-04-03--EU Lawmakers Say Russia Using Coronavirus Crisis For Political Benefit

BRUSSELS -- A group of European Union lawmakers are accusing Moscow of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to try to get sanctions imposed over Russia 's actions in Ukraine lifted , according to a letter seen by RFE/RL .
The letter , dated April 3 , says Russian aid provided in support for European countries to tackle the health emergency caused by coronavirus is part of `` public relation campaigns '' aimed at having the EU sanctions reviewed or lifted .
The letter was signed by 19 members of the European Parliament and addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell .
The lawmakers said they `` seek to rebuff any possibility of reviewing or lifting the EU sanctions against the Russian Federation due to the pandemic . ''
`` Russian authorities by pursuing such public relation campaigns as sending poorly applicable humanitarian aid to Italy , as well as misinterpreting the statements by the UN officials , might try to sway the position of the EU and its member states leadership regarding the sanctions , '' they added .
A source told RFE/RL the letter was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russian President Vladimir Putin that a freeze be placed on economic sanctions to allow countries to better combat the coronavirus epidemic .
Putin told a Group of 20 ( G20 ) video conference on March 26 that restrictive measures imposed on countries should be lifted on humanitarian grounds to `` facilitate mutual deliveries of drugs , food , equipment , and technology . ''
The lawmakers ' letter says that the EU sanctions , imposed over the Russian annexation of Ukraine 's Crimea region in 2014 and its subsequent support for separatists in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia from duly protecting its citizens ' health and contributing to the global fight against the coronavirus . ''
It adds that the restrictive measures do n't target trade in medicines and medical equipment .
The document also notes that the sanctions `` can only be reviewed if substantial progress '' in implementation of the Minsk agreements that sought to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine is achieved .
`` Russia remains hard to be trusted , '' the lawmakers insisted , citing `` worrisome statements by Russian doctors accusing Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country '' and `` the absence of national efforts to flatten the coronavirus curve . ''
The document concludes by stating that `` as long as Russia denies and hides data about the actual COVID-19 spread in the country , distorts the global tragedy for its political benefits , and continues aggressive actions against the neighboring states and their population , the EU sanctions are among the only available measures to keep Russia accountable and to deter from further violation of the international law and attempts to undermine our European values @ @ @ @

BRUSSELS -- A group of European Union lawmakers are accusing Moscow of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to try to get sanctions imposed over Russia's actions in Ukraine lifted, according to a letter seen by RFE/RL.
The letter, dated April 3, says Russian aid provided in support for European countries to tackle the health emergency caused by coronavirus is part of "public relation campaigns" aimed at having the EU sanctions reviewed or lifted.
The letter was signed by 19 members of the European Parliament and addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, and EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell.
The lawmakers said they "seek to rebuff any possibility of reviewing or lifting the EU sanctions against the Russian Federation due to the pandemic."
"Russian authorities by pursuing such public relation campaigns as sending poorly applicable humanitarian aid to Italy, as well as misinterpreting the statements by the UN officials, might try to sway the position of the EU and its member states leadership regarding the sanctions," they added.
A source told RFE/RL the letter was referring to a proposal recently made by Russian President Vladimir Putin that a freeze be placed on economic sanctions to allow countries to better combat the coronavirus epidemic.
Putin told a Group of 20 (G20) video conference on March 26 that restrictive measures imposed on countries should be lifted on humanitarian grounds to "facilitate mutual deliveries of drugs, food, equipment, and technology."
The lawmakers' letter says that the EU sanctions, imposed over the Russian annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and its subsequent support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, "do not prevent Russia from duly protecting its citizens' health and contributing to the global fight against the coronavirus."
It adds that the restrictive measures don't target trade in medicines and medical equipment.
The document also notes that the sanctions "can only be reviewed if substantial progress" in implementation of the Minsk agreements that sought to put an end to fighting in eastern Ukraine is achieved.
"Russia remains hard to be trusted," the lawmakers insisted, citing "worrisome statements by Russian doctors accusing Russian government of covering up the coronavirus outbreak in the country" and "the absence of national efforts to flatten the coronavirus curve."
The document concludes by stating that "as long as Russia denies and hides data about the actual COVID-19 spread in the country, distorts the global tragedy for its political benefits, and continues aggressive actions against the neighboring states and their population, the EU sanctions are among the only available measures to keep Russia accountable and to deter from further violation of the international law and attempts to undermine our European values and democracy."


rferl--2020-04-03--Prague Removes Statue of Soviet-Era Commander, Angering Russia

A controversial memorial in Prague to a Soviet-era military commander has been removed from its pedestal , drawing a rebuke from Moscow and from Czech President Milos Zeman .
The bronze statue of General Ivan Konev , a marshall of the Soviet Union during World War II , was dismantled on April 3 after a local assembly in the Prague 6 district voted in 2019 to remove it .
Konev is regarded as a hero in Russia for retaking much of Eastern Europe from Nazi German forces during World War II .
But many Czechs view him an enforcer of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ led the Soviet troops that entered Prague after it had been liberated from the Nazis by resistance forces .
But he also commanded the troops that crushed the1956 anti-Soviet uprising in Hungary and helped build the Berlin Wall .
Some historians say Konev also participated in planning the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia .
The Russian Embassy in Prague protested the removal of the monument on April 3 in a note sent to the Czech Foreign Ministry .
`` The dismantlement of a monument to Marshal Ivan Konev will not be left without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the Russian Embassy said .
President Zeman said local authorities `` abused '' a public-health lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus .
Local officials say a new monument will be erected at the site to honor the Prague uprising resistance fighters who liberated the city from the Nazis at the end of World War II , days before Konev 's Soviet troops arrived .
Konev 's statue , erected in 1980 by Czechoslovakia 's communist regime , will be transferred to a planned history museum .
Based on reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Interfax

A controversial memorial in Prague to a Soviet-era military commander has been removed from its pedestal, drawing a rebuke from Moscow and from Czech President Milos Zeman.
The bronze statue of Marshal Ivan Konev was dismantled on April 3 after a local assembly in the Prague 6 district voted in 2019 to remove it.
Konev is regarded as a hero in Russia for retaking much of Eastern Europe from Nazi German forces during World War II. But many Czechs view him an enforcer of Soviet rule after the war.
He led the Soviet troops that entered Prague after it had been liberated from the Nazis by resistance forces.
But he also commanded the troops that crushed the1956 anti-Soviet uprising in Hungary and helped build the Berlin Wall. Some historians say Konev also participated in planning the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.
The Russian Embassy in Prague protested the removal of the monument on April 3 in a note sent to the Czech Foreign Ministry.
"The dismantlement of a monument to Marshal Ivan Konev will not be left without the Russian side's appropriate response," the Russian Embassy said.
President Zeman said local authorities "abused" a public-health lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.
Local officials say a new monument will be erected at the site to honor the Prague uprising resistance fighters who liberated the city from the Nazis at the end of World War II, days before Konev's Soviet troops arrived.
Konev's statue, erected in 1980 by Czechoslovakia's communist regime, will be transferred to a planned history museum.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Interfax


rferl--2020-04-03--Azerbaijani Opposition Activist Detained After Release From Psychiatric Clinic

BAKU -- A member of the opposition Popular Front Of Azerbaijan ( AXCP ) has been detained by police a day after he was released from a psychiatric clinic where he was held against his will for almost three days .
Aqil Humbatov 's wife , Aygun Humbatova , told RFE/RL that her husband 's co-workers told her that two men in civilian clothing apprehended the activist in Baku 's Xazar district at around 5 p.m. on April 2 .
According to Humbatova , she has not been able to locate her husband , nor have Baku city police given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told RFE/RL earlier that he was detained on March 30 , a day after he placed a post on Facebook that criticized the government and President Ilham Aliyev for ignoring the rights of poor children , many of whom need medical treatment .
The same day , a court ruled that Humbatov must be placed in a psychiatric clinic , citing some witnesses who claimed that they saw Humbatov taking off his trousers outdoors .
On April 1 , Humbatov was abruptly released , after which he placed new posts on Facebook describing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` inhuman '' and `` horrible . ''
Critics of longtime President Aliyev 's government say the authorities in the oil-rich South Caucasus country frequently seek to silence dissent by jailing opposition activists , reporters , human rights defenders , and civil society advocates without grounds .
Dozens of AXCP members have been arrested , and some imprisoned , in recent years on what their supporters call trumped-up charges .
Aliyev denies any rights abuses .
He took power in 2003 shortly before the death of his father , Heydar Aliyev , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had ruled Azerbaijan since 1993 .

BAKU -- A member of the opposition Popular Front Of Azerbaijan (AXCP) has been detained by police a day after he was released from a psychiatric clinic where he was held against his will for almost three days.
Aqil Humbatov's wife, Aygun Humbatova, told RFE/RL that her husband's co-workers told her that two men in civilian clothing apprehended the activist in Baku's Xazar district at around 5 p.m. on April 2.
According to Humbatova, she has not been able to locate her husband, nor have Baku city police given a reason for his detention.
Humbatov told RFE/RL earlier that he was detained on March 30, a day after he placed a post on Facebook that criticized the government and President Ilham Aliyev for ignoring the rights of poor children, many of whom need medical treatment.
The same day, a court ruled that Humbatov must be placed in a psychiatric clinic, citing some witnesses who claimed that they saw Humbatov taking off his trousers outdoors.
On April 1, Humbatov was abruptly released, after which he placed new posts on Facebook describing the conditions in the psychiatric clinic as "inhuman" and "horrible."
Critics of longtime President Aliyev's government say the authorities in the oil-rich South Caucasus country frequently seek to silence dissent by jailing opposition activists, reporters, human rights defenders, and civil society advocates without grounds.
Dozens of AXCP members have been arrested, and some imprisoned, in recent years on what their supporters call trumped-up charges.
Aliyev denies any rights abuses. He took power in 2003 shortly before the death of his father, Heydar Aliyev, a former KGB officer and communist-era leader who had ruled Azerbaijan since 1993.


rferl--2020-04-03--Russian Doctor Who Criticized Government's COVID-19 Response Detained

MOSCOW -- The head of a doctors ' union that has criticized the Russian government ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been detained during a trip she made to assess the preparedness of provincial hospitals and supply medical workers with masks and other safety equipment .
Anastasia Vasilyeva of the Doctors ' Alliance , a group backed by Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny , was stopped by the police in the town of Okulovka , some 400 kilometers north of Moscow , and held overnight for questioning , a representative of the labor union told RFE/RL .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Doctors ' Alliance late on April 2 appears to show Vasilyeva being detained by police in a rough manner .
`` Police ambushed Anastasia Vasilyeva , and tried to drag her by force into the police station , '' reads a text appended to the video , alleging that Vasilyeva had lost consciousness after one of the officers tried to strangle her .
`` This is real fascism . ''
Ivan Konovalov of the Doctors ' Alliance told RFE/RL on the phone that Vasilyeva was driven to a local police station in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court hearing on April 3 , she was fined 1,600 rubles ( $ 21 ) for violating the rules of a lockdown imposed by Russian authorities on March 30 and disobeying police orders .
Amnesty International denounced Vasilyeva 's arrest in a statement on April 3 saying it was `` staggering that the Russian authorities appear to fear criticism more than the deadly COVID-19 pandemic . ''
Since Russia began reporting a spike in coronavirus cases in early March , Vasilyeva has criticized the government 's response to the epidemic and accused it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russia .
`` The government is openly lying , '' she told RFE/RL on March 20 , alleging that the authorities `` do n't want people to understand the dire state that our health care is in . ''
The Doctors ' Alliance trip to the Novgorod region was part of a campaign it dubbed the All-Russian Medical Inspection , a tour of the country 's hospitals to assess their preparedness for the coronavirus epidemic and provide medical workers with equipment to weather the coming storm and ensure the local population has sufficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the length of Russia to inspect medical facilities and bring protective equipment to doctors in those places , where the government ca n't provide it , '' Vasilyeva said in a promotional video for the campaign .
Konovalov , the spokesman who was with Vasilyeva in Okulovka and spoke to RFE/RL from outside the police station where she was being questioned , said the union had traveled to the Novgorod region in a group of 12 people , including a lawyer and three camera operators tasked with documenting the trip .
The medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bought through public donations .
Konovalov said the Doctors ' Alliance had gathered 3 million rubles ( $ 40,000 ) since announcing its funding drive on Monday afternoon .
`` This is a pretty big sum considering our labor union is small and the country is going through an economic crisis .
The ruble has depreciated and oil prices have plunged , '' he said .
Konovalov insisted the group was taking precautionary measures , wearing face masks and traveling three people to a car .
He said they were unsure if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regions after Vasilyeva ’ s detention and fine .
`` We 'll have to discuss that , '' he said .
`` We do n't want to abandon this mission . ''
Igor Trunov , the head of the Moscow branch of the Red Cross , said in a press conference on March 26 that at least 17 Russian regions were short of ventilators and other vital medical equipment .

MOSCOW -- The head of a doctors' union that has criticized the Russian government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic has been detained during a trip she made to assess the preparedness of provincial hospitals and supply medical workers with masks and other safety equipment.
Anastasia Vasilyeva of the Doctors' Alliance, a group backed by Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, was stopped by the police in the town of Okulovka, some 400 kilometers north of Moscow, and held overnight for questioning, a representative of the labor union told RFE/RL.
A video posted on the Twitter account of the Doctors' Alliance late on April 2 appears to show Vasilyeva being detained by police in a rough manner.
"Police ambushed Anastasia Vasilyeva, and tried to drag her by force into the police station," reads a text appended to the video, alleging that Vasilyeva had lost consciousness after one of the officers tried to strangle her. "This is real fascism."
Ivan Konovalov of the Doctors' Alliance told RFE/RL on the phone that Vasilyeva was driven to a local police station in an unmarked vehicle.
After a brief court hearing on April 3, she was fined 1,600 rubles ($21) for violating the rules of a lockdown imposed by Russian authorities on March 30 and disobeying police orders.
Amnesty International denounced Vasilyeva's arrest in a statement on April 3 saying it was "staggering that the Russian authorities appear to fear criticism more than the deadly COVID-19 pandemic."
Since Russia began reporting a spike in coronavirus cases in early March, Vasilyeva has criticized the government's response to the epidemic and accused it of downplaying the number of infections in Russia.
"The government is openly lying," she told RFE/RL on March 20, alleging that the authorities "don't want people to understand the dire state that our health care is in."
The Doctors' Alliance trip to the Novgorod region was part of a campaign it dubbed the All-Russian Medical Inspection, a tour of the country's hospitals to assess their preparedness for the coronavirus epidemic and provide medical workers with equipment to weather the coming storm and ensure the local population has sufficient health care.
"We'll travel the length of Russia to inspect medical facilities and bring protective equipment to doctors in those places, where the government can't provide it," Vasilyeva said in a promotional video for the campaign.
Konovalov, the spokesman who was with Vasilyeva in Okulovka and spoke to RFE/RL from outside the police station where she was being questioned, said the union had traveled to the Novgorod region in a group of 12 people, including a lawyer and three camera operators tasked with documenting the trip.
The medical equipment they were transporting had been partly bought through public donations. Konovalov said the Doctors' Alliance had gathered 3 million rubles ($40,000) since announcing its funding drive on Monday afternoon.
"This is a pretty big sum considering our labor union is small and the country is going through an economic crisis. The ruble has depreciated and oil prices have plunged," he said.
Konovalov insisted the group was taking precautionary measures, wearing face masks and traveling three people to a car. He said they were unsure if they'll continue visiting hospitals in Russia's regions after Vasilyeva’s detention and fine.
"We'll have to discuss that," he said. "We don't want to abandon this mission."
Igor Trunov, the head of the Moscow branch of the Red Cross, said in a press conference on March 26 that at least 17 Russian regions were short of ventilators and other vital medical equipment.


rferl--2020-04-03--Russian Election Officials Postpone All Votes Until After June 21

Russia 's election authorities have postponed all upcoming local and nationwide votes in the country until after June 21 .
The Central Election Commission ( CEC ) decided on April 3 that all votes would be held after June 21 .
`` Taking into consideration the current situation in the country and for securing citizens ' health and safety , we conclude that it is necessary to postpone all elections and referendums that have been planned for upcoming months until the improvement of the epidemiological situation in the country , '' CEC Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova said .
Earlier , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to change dates for planned votes .
About 100 votes had been scheduled to take place across Russia by June 21 .
A nationwide vote on sweeping constitutional changes that opens the possibility of Putin remaining in power for a further 16 years was initially scheduled for April 22 .
But the Russian leader on March 25 postponed the vote to an unspecified date because of concerns over the coronavirus outbreak .
Putin , 67 , has ruled Russia as president or prime minister for more than 20 years .
Based on reporting @ @ @ @

Russia's election authorities have postponed all upcoming local and nationwide votes in the country until after June 21.
The Central Election Commission (CEC) decided on April 3 that all votes would be held after June 21.
"Taking into consideration the current situation in the country and for securing citizens' health and safety, we conclude that it is necessary to postpone all elections and referendums that have been planned for upcoming months until the improvement of the epidemiological situation in the country," CEC Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova said.
Earlier, President Vladimir Putin signed legislation allowing the CEC to change dates for planned votes.
About 100 votes had been scheduled to take place across Russia by June 21.
A nationwide vote on sweeping constitutional changes that opens the possibility of Putin remaining in power for a further 16 years was initially scheduled for April 22.
But the Russian leader on March 25 postponed the vote to an unspecified date because of concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.
Putin, 67, has ruled Russia as president or prime minister for more than 20 years.
Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax


rferl--2020-04-03--COVID-19: Iran 'Successfully' Battling Outbreak Despite Sanctions; Patriarch Seeks To Save Moscow

The global death toll has surpassed 54,000 with over 1 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness .
President Hassan Rohani says U.S. sanctions have not hampered Iran 's ability to fight the Middle East 's worst outbreak of the coronavirus .
`` We did not face a problem due to cohesion , good management , skilled and professional medical staff , and all of these came together , '' Rohani was quoted as saying during a cabinet meeting on April 2 .
He also said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank governor , `` Iran has no problem in providing foreign currency until the end of the [ Iranian ] year , '' in March .
U.S. sanctions have cut off oil revenue and devastated the Iranian economy , causing the national currency , the rial , to fall in value .
`` We have a good reserve of essential commodities for the next months and agriculture and trade ministers have given very promising reports for the situation during the coming months , '' Rohani said .
His comments come amid increased calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of countries , the United Nations , and several U.S. lawmakers for the United States to ease sanctions , which some say have made it difficult for Tehran to contain the outbreak that has officially killed nearly 3,300 Iranians , including some 50 health-care workers and several politicians .
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said on Twitter that Rohani 's comments were a confirmation of Washington 's stand that U.S.-led economic sanctions do not hamper Iran as it battles the coronavirus pandemic .
`` We have repeatedly said that U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's response to the COVID-19 crisis , '' Ortagus tweeted .
Meanwhile , former U.S. Vice President and Democratic Party presidential contender Joe Biden on April 2 joined those calling for an easing of U.S. sanctions reimposed in 2018 after U.S. Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear deal aimed at curbing Iran 's nuclear program .
`` In times of global crisis , America should lead , '' Biden said in a statement released on April 2 .
`` We should be the first to offer help to people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's who we are .
That 's who we 've always been , '' he added .
While noting that Tehran `` failed to respond effectively to this crisis , '' Biden said that `` it makes no sense , in a global health crisis , to compound that failure with cruelty by inhibiting access to needed humanitarian assistance . ''
Iranian authorities have been criticized for a slow initial response to the pandemic and a failure to quarantine the city of Qom , where the coronavirus outbreak erupted in February .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including a ban on intercity travel and strict social-distancing rules , to try to contain the pandemic .
Biden said the United States should take a number of steps , including issuing licenses to pharmaceutical and medical-device companies and creating a dedicated channel for international banks to support Iran in its fight against COVID-19 .
Asked on April 2 whether he would consider easing sanctions on Iran amid the coronavirus outbreak , Trump told reporters that Tehran had not made a formal request .
`` They have n't asked us to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` If they want to meet , we 'd love to do that . ''
In his statement , Biden said the Trump administration 's offer of aid to Iran was `` insufficient '' if not backed by concrete steps to ensure that Washington is not exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country .
`` Whatever our many , many disagreements with the Iranian government , it 's the right and humane thing to do , '' Biden said , adding that Tehran should also make a humanitarian gesture and allow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
According to Iran 's official figures released on April 3 , the death toll from the coronavirus crisis is 3,294 people while 53,183 cases of infection have been confirmed .
Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said recently that 3,956 of the patients were in intensive care .
The real numbers of infected and dead are believed to be significantly higher .
An exclusive report by Radio Farda based on statements made by local officials and medical experts puts the number of those infected with the virus in Iran at more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as of April 2 .
Iranian leaders have called for the removal of the `` unjust '' and `` illegal '' sanctions while rejecting Washington 's offer of help .
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also suggested that Washington could be behind the pandemic , which has killed more than 6,000 Americans and infected nearly 250,000 .
Iran has asked the International Monetary Fund for $ 5 billion in emergency funds to battle the coronavirus outbreak .
The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has embarked on a tour around Moscow with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an effort to free the Russian capital from coronavirus .
The motorcade carrying Patriarch Kirill and the Tenderness icon of the Mother of God on April 3 drove along the Moscow ring highway , which is more than 100 kilometers long .
Kirill , 73 , called on believers to stay at home and join him in prayer to get rid of the coronavirus pandemic as the capital is under strict lockdown .
He is set to serve the morning service at Moscow 's Yelokhovo Epiphany Cathedral on April 4 .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registered across Russia as of April 3 , with 34 deaths , according to a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University in the United States .
Critics say they believe the real number is higher and have accused Russian authorities of underreporting the extent of the outbreak in the country .
To slow the spread of the virus , most of Russia 's regions have implemented self-isolation measures and closed nonessential businesses .
The Russian Orthodox Church was against the closure of churches at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic , but Kirill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home .
Meanwhile , U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States accepted medical equipment from Russia and he had no concerns about the gesture being used as propaganda .
Trump said on April 2 that the equipment was offered by Vladimir Putin during his phone call with the Russian president earlier this week to discuss the fight against the coronavirus outbreak and that he considered it a “ very nice gesture.
” “ I could have said 'no thank you ' or I could have said 'thank you ' and ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump said at a White House briefing .
The United States confirmed that a Russian plane carrying the supplies , including ventilators and personal protection equipment , arrived on April 1 in New York City .
State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the items had been purchased but did not say how much the United States paid for the equipment .
Trump said he was `` not even a little bit '' concerned about Russia using the gesture for propaganda .
Putin `` offered a lot of medical , high-quality stuff that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of lives , '' Trump said .
`` I 'll take it every day . ''
Russia 's deputy UN ambassador , Dmitry Polyansky , was quoted by Interfax as saying that while nothing has been agreed , it `` is not ruled out '' that further shipments may follow .
Trump also said there could be more shipments .
Putin `` would send more aid if we asked for it , '' he said .
Kremlin critics questioned why Moscow would send equipment abroad at a time when there are questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I thought this was a stupid April Fool 's joke but turns out it 's true .
Russia really did SELL the U.S. masks and medical equipment at a time when doctors and nurses all over the country are working without masks and infecting one another .
It 's monstrous .
Putin 's mad , '' opposition leader and vocal Putin critic Aleksei Navalny said on Twitter .
In Russia , where the accuracy of official data has been questioned , the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has jumped in recent days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other European countries .
Kyrgyzstan has recorded its first official fatality from COVID-19 after a man in the southern region of Osh who had tested positive for the coronavirus died .
Health officials said on April 3 that the 61-year-old , who had `` serious co-existing diseases , '' came back to the country from a trip abroad and had been placed under observation after becoming ill .
He later tested positive for the virus and was admitted to a hospital .
“ To be honest , when he was buried , none @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” district commander Malik Nurdinov said , referring to the limited ability of people to move after the government declared a state of emergency in a number of cities , including the capital , Bishkek .
Kyrgyz officials said that the number of coronavirus cases in the Central Asian nation had reached 130 .
In neighboring Kazakhstan , Defense Minister Nurlan Ermekbaev said on April 3 that thousands of reservists will be called for up to three months to help combat the coronavirus outbreak and to also provide temporary employment to those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closures .
Health authorities in the oil-rich country said that as of April 3 , the number of coronavirus cases was 453 , including three deaths .
In another Central Asian nation , Uzbekistan , the number of coronavirus cases reached 221 .
Two persons have succumbed to the virus there .
In two other countries in the region , Tajikistan and Turkmenistan , officials have not officially registered any coronavirus cases so far .
During a televised cabinet meeting , Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov for the first time publicly used the word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raging in the world '' and is having a negative effect on the gas-rich country 's economy , Berdymukhammedov said on April 3 .
The Turkmen leader also `` ordered to take measures to counter the spread of coronavirus , '' according to state TV .
He did not specifically admit that the country was facing an outbreak of the respiratory illness , however .
The autocratic former Soviet republic has been largely silent about the pandemic and has not yet reported any coronavirus cases , raising international suspicions .
The authorities `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' as much as possible in order to deter the spread of information about the pandemic , '' according to Reporters Without Borders ( RSF ) .
`` By banning use of the word 'coronavirus ' on the streets and never mentioning it in official documents and in the media ... Turkmenistan 's government is putting its citizens in danger , ” the Paris-based media-freedom watchdog said .
Turkmenistan 's tightly controlled economy has been struggling for months , with government revenues depleted in part to unsuccessful energy deals and low global prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ main export .
Azerbaijanis will be able to venture into the streets only after sending a text message with their identification number and the reason for their trip under additional requirements announced on April 2 to help control the spread of the coronavirus .
Beginning on April 5 , Azerbaijanis will have to text their ID number along with a number corresponding to the reason for their trip to 8103 , officials said .
The text message is free of charge .
The number 1 is for medical services ; 2 is for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postal services ; and 3 is for trips to attend the funeral of a close relative .
Azerbaijan last week tightened its quarantine rules to slow the spread of the coronavirus , barring the movement of vehicles between regions and cities across the country , with some exceptions , including ambulances , social services , and agricultural vehicles .
Baku 's subway system is operating only five hours a day , and , as in much of the world , restaurants , cafes , teahouses , and shops -- except supermarkets , grocery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The South Caucasus country has reported 400 coronavirus cases , with five deaths .
With reporting by RFE/RL 's Azerbaijani , Kyrgyz , Kazakh , and Uzbek services , Rossia-24 , Interfax , Reuters , AFP , and TASS


rferl--2020-04-02--Two More Bulgarian Parliamentarians Test Positive For COVID-19

Two more Bulgarian parliamentarians have tested positive for COVID-19 , the illness caused by the coronavirus .
The chairwoman of the parliamentary group of the ruling center-right GERB party , Daniela Daritkova , and another party member , Daniela Maleshkova , were identified on April 2 as having COVID-19 .
The positive tests were reported a day after all Bulgarian lawmakers were told to undergo testing after one parliamentarian came down with COVID-19 .
Hasan Ademov , a member of the center-right Movement For Rights And Freedoms ( MRF ) , tested positive for COVID-19 , National Assembly speaker Tsveta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 .
General Ventsislav Mutafchiiski , the chief of Bulgaria 's National Operations Headquarters , said on April 1 that Ademov was in the hospital , but did not provide other details .
Despite the three cases , the 240-member National Assembly is scheduled to meet on April 3 to discuss a draft update of the state budget act proposed by the government .
Earlier on April 2 , the Health Ministry reported eight new case of COVID-19 , the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus , in Bulgaria .
That brings the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bulgaria has been in a state of emergency since March 13 .
Schools and most shops are closed and there are restrictions on intercity travel and access to parks .
All domestic and foreign holidays trips are banned .
The measures are to last until at least April 13 .
However , the government has proposed extending the state of emergency through May 13 .
“ The world is facing a huge challenge , a war that is killing many innocent victims , ” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Facebook .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can to protect the life and health of the Bulgarian people .
”

Two more Bulgarian parliamentarians have tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
The chairwoman of the parliamentary group of the ruling center-right GERB party, Daniela Daritkova, and another party member, Daniela Maleshkova, were identified on April 2 as having COVID-19.
The positive tests were reported a day after all Bulgarian lawmakers were told to undergo testing after one parliamentarian came down with COVID-19.
Hasan Ademov, a member of the center-right Movement For Rights And Freedoms (MRF), tested positive for COVID-19, National Assembly speaker Tsveta Karayancheva told an emergency briefing on March 31.
General Ventsislav Mutafchiiski, the chief of Bulgaria's National Operations Headquarters, said on April 1 that Ademov was in the hospital, but did not provide other details.
Despite the three cases, the 240-member National Assembly is scheduled to meet on April 3 to discuss a draft update of the state budget act proposed by the government.
Earlier on April 2, the Health Ministry reported eight new case of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus, in Bulgaria. That brings the total to 457, with 10 deaths.
Bulgaria has been in a state of emergency since March 13. Schools and most shops are closed and there are restrictions on intercity travel and access to parks. All domestic and foreign holidays trips are banned.
The measures are to last until at least April 13. However, the government has proposed extending the state of emergency through May 13.
“The world is facing a huge challenge, a war that is killing many innocent victims,” Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said on Facebook. “We have to do everything we can to protect the life and health of the Bulgarian people.”


rferl--2020-04-04--COVID-19: Tajikistan's Soccer Season To Kick Off Despite Coronavirus Pandemic

The global death toll has reached almost 60,000 with over 1.1 million infections confirmed , causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness .
Tajikistan 's soccer league is expected to kick off despite virtually every competition around the world having postponed its season due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The small Central Asian country of nearly 9 million has not reported a single coronavirus infection .
The Super Cup soccer final between champions Istiklol and Khujand will be played on April 4 , although officials have decided the game will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league kicks off on April 5 with three games , which will also be played behind closed doors .
Tajikistan was widely criticized for organizing large parades , concerts , and sporting events to celebrate Norouz , the Persian New Year , in March , ignoring World Health Organization ( WHO ) warnings about large social gatherings .
The Tajik Health Ministry has insisted that there has not been one confirmed case of the coronavirus infection in the country .
Why Numbers Don ’ t Tell The Full Story A daily compilation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is currently the most comprehensive in the world , but it relies on information provided by governments .
In many countries , there are restrictions on releasing such information or reasons why the full story might not want to be told .
The methodology , immediacy , transparency , and quality of this data can vary dramatically country by country .
The ministry said that 6,272 people were taken under a mandatory two-week quarantine after arriving in Tajikistan from abroad between February 1 and April 2 .
Russia has recorded 582 new cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours , bringing the total number of recorded cases to over 4,700 and the overall death toll to 43 early on April 4 .
Critics believe the real number is higher and have accused Russian authorities of underreporting the extent of the outbreak in the country .
In Iran , the worst-hit country in the Middle East , the death toll climbed to 3,452 on April 4 , with 158 more fatalities recorded over the past 24 hours , Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said .
The real numbers of infected and dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With reporting by RFE/RL 's Tajik Service and Reuters

The global death toll has passed 60,000 with over 1.1 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the new respiratory illness.
Here's a roundup of developments in RFE/RL's broadcast countries.
Serbia
Police in Serbia say that Serbian soccer player Aleksandar Prijovic has been arrested for violating the country's public-health restrictions over the coronavirus pandemic.
National Police director Vladimir Rebic told Serbia's state-run RTS television that Prijovic was arrested on April 3 "along with several other people."
Rebic said the group has been summoned to the Prosecutor-General's Office in Belgrade.
"They violated the curfew as they were having drinks in the restaurant lobby of a Belgrade hotel after the 5 p.m. deadline and there were more than five people present in total," Rebic said on April 4.
"The hotel is also responsible because the measures also prohibit serving food and drinks...except if home delivery is feasible," Rebic said.
Serbia's government has imposed a daily 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew during weekdays and a more stringent weekend ban starting at 1 p.m. on Saturdays until 5 a.m. on Mondays in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
The government has also told residents to avoid picnics, leisure activities and all forms of public gatherings in a bid to limit the outbreak.
Serbia has so far registered 1,624 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 44 deaths, a database maintained by Johns Hopkins University said on April 4.
Prijovic, who plays soccer for the Saudi team Al-Ittihad, is the second Serbian player to breach the country's coronavirus measures after Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic was caught violating a quarantine.
Criminal charges were pressed against Jovic on March 19 after he left his apartment in a Belgrade suburb, where he was ordered to stay in a mandatory 28-day self-isolation after returning to the country from Spain.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan's soccer league has started a new season despite competitions in most other countries around the world being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The small Central Asian country of nearly 9 million has not reported single coronavirus infection -- prompting suspicions that the authorities are not accurately reporting information about the pandemic in their country.
Tajik officials allowed the country's season-opening Super Cup to be played on April 4 between Istiklol Dushanbe and Khujand.
Istiklol Dushanbe won the game with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory.
The game was played without fans due to emergency public-health restrictions. A large banner reading "Stop coronavirus" in the Tajik and Russian languages covered part of the empty stands.
Players and staff from both teams mingled freely after the final whistle before officials hung medals around the necks of the players and shook their hands.
In the midst of the global pandemic, professional soccer is continuing in only a few countries, such as Belarus, Nicaragua, and Burundi.
The 10-team league is scheduled to play three games on April 5 without any fans present.
Tajikistan was widely criticized for organizing large parades, concerts, and sporting events to celebrate Norouz, the Persian New Year, in March, ignoring World Health Organization (WHO) warnings about large social gatherings.
The Tajik Health Ministry insists there has not been one confirmed case of coronavirus in the country.
But Tajik authorities also have taken measures to prevent journalists from reporting about the government's handling of the pandemic.
The Health Ministry says that since February 1, 6,272 people have been placed under a mandatory two-week quarantine upon their arrivals in Tajikistan from other countries.
WATCH: Caretakers of public cemeteries in Dnipro, a city in southeastern Ukraine, have been ordered to dig 600 graves and thousands of body bags have been ordered for potential coronavirus victims.
Russia
Russia has recorded 582 new cases and nine deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recorded cases to over 4,700 and the overall death toll to 43 early on April 4.
Critics believe the real number is higher and have accused Russian authorities of underreporting the extent of the outbreak in the country.
Iran
In Iran, the worst-hit country in the Middle East, the death toll climbed to 3,452 on April 4, with 158 more fatalities recorded over the past 24 hours, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpur said.
The real numbers of infected and dead are believed to be significantly higher.
WATCH: The national flag flew at half-mast throughout China on April 4, and all forms of entertainment were suspended. The country observed three minutes of silence.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan and Tajik services, Reuters, and RTS


rferl--2020-04-04--Gunmen Shoot Dead Afghan Presidential Guard On Kabul Outskirts

Afghanistan 's Interior Ministry says gunmen have shot and killed a member of the presidential guard in the outskirts of @ @ @ @ @ Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said on April 4 that another member of the Presidential @ @ @ @ @ was wounded in the same attack late on April 3 in the Paghman district of @ @ @ @ @ unclear if the guards were on duty .
Arian said an investigation had been launched @ @ @ @ @ group has claimed responsibility for the attack , although similar attacks in the past have @ @ @ @ @ .
Based on reporting by Khaama and Tolo News

The education of girls and women is universally accepted in more than 200 countries and territories, including nearly 50 Muslim-majority nations.
But Afghanistan’s hard-line Islamist Taliban rulers have banned teenage girls from attending school after the sixth grade since they returned to power two years ago. The ban was extended in December to women in universities.
Countless protests by Afghans inside the country, pressure from the international community, and lobbying by Muslim scholars and clerics have failed to convince the fundamentalist Taliban leaders to reopen schools.
Experts are divided over whether the ban is rooted in how the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam is shaped by conservative Pashtun tribal customs and cultural practices or if it is prompted by how senior Taliban ideologues interpret Islamic teachings.
Most Taliban leaders are ethnic Pashtun, Sunni Muslim clerics. Many were educated in Deobandi madrasahs in neighboring Pakistan. Deobandism emerged as a puritanical Islamic revivalist movement in 19-century British Colonial India. Based on the Sunni Hanafi school of jurisprudence, it is a prominent strain among Islamists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Tribal Influences
Sami Yousafzai, a veteran Afghan journalist and commentator, argues that the Taliban restrictions against women are linked to social customs and cultural practices in eastern and southern Afghanistan.
Most Taliban leaders come from various Pashtun rural tribal communities in these regions bordering Pakistan.
"They believe that a woman's place is either inside a house or in a grave," Yousafzai said of the basic Taliban belief influenced by the status of women in the families of clerics and religious leaders in these Pashtun regions.
“Women living in the households of the current Taliban policymakers were never educated and never left their homes,” said Yousafzai, who has tracked the Islamist group since it emerged as a ragtag militia in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar in late 1994. “These women never performed any government or nongovernmental jobs.”
Yousafzai says the Taliban backs policies shaped by this worldview by leaning on Islamic teachings supporting such ideas. He says Taliban leaders rely on sayings attributed to the Prophet Muhammad that discourage women from leaving their homes.
“Their primary belief is that pubescent girls should not leave home under any circumstance,” he said. “This is why they view women leaving home for education or work as engaging in moral corruption.”
In Afghanistan, a Muslim nation of some 40 million people, activists and rights advocates accuse the Taliban of implementing "gender apartheid" by denying women education, work, freedom of movement, and deciding how they can appear in public.
Most Muslims agree that Islam allows women to get an education. Yet the Taliban publicly says that it will allow girls access to education only after ensuring complete gender segregation and other unspecified conditions.
Almost all Afghan secondary schools were gender segregated and universities imposed a strict separation between men and women after the Taliban takeover.
Yousafzai says in conservative and traditional Muslim societies around the world, some clerics also favor restrictions on women's education, work, and their role in public life. But the governments in those countries usually oppose or limit such ideas.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia -- one of the most conservative Sunni Muslim nations -- has allowed women to drive and granted them freedom of movement without a male guardian. These steps are part of a reform and modernity drive by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
The Taliban ban on education has invited universal condemnation from Muslims globally.
“The Taliban's ban on women's education is not rooted in [the Islamic] Shari’a law but rather reflects cultural biases that contradict the teachings of Islam,” said Salam al-Marayati, president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in the United States.
He said that contrary to Taliban practices, “Islam emphasizes the importance of seeking knowledge and encourages all individuals, regardless of gender, to acquire an education.”
Historical Conflict
But Islamic scholars and those who have attempted to convince the Taliban about reopening girls schools offer a different explanation.
John Mohammad Butt, an Islamic scholar and former BBC broadcaster who is the only Westerner to graduate from India’s Darul Uloom Deoband, argues that the Taliban's policy on girls' education is not tribal but shaped by the century-old conflict over modern education.
“The problem is that girls' education in Afghanistan -- indeed, contemporary education in general -- has generally been introduced in Afghanistan in line with a secular agenda,” he said.
In the 1920s, a coalition of conservative clerics and tribal and community leaders deposed reformist King Amanullah Khan. He wanted to modernize Afghanistan along Turkish leader Kamal Ataturk's secular lines and championed modern education and rights for women.
This opposition to modernity and secularism continued, and conservative clerics opposed women's education and work. It became a key part of the Islamist opposition to the pro-Soviet Afghan communist governments after the April 1978 military coup that ended the Afghan monarchy. The mujahedin accused the communists of spreading immorality by promoting women’s education and empowerment.
“This has led to particular wariness on the part of conservative circles in Afghanistan with regard to girls' education,” Butt said.
'Deep Ideological Conviction'
Obaidullah Baheer, a political science lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan, became part of an effort to rescind the ban by talking to the Taliban last year.
But he says the effort failed because “the ban is a matter of deep ideological conviction” for the current supreme leader of the Taliban, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.
Baheer says that the most prominent Taliban leaders have studied in Pakistani madrasahs and were thus disconnected from village and tribal life.
“They have been indoctrinated by the Deobandi school of thought so that they now enforce the strictest version of Islam on the Afghan population,” he said.
He argues that the ban on girls’ schools is a deliberate policy championed by Akhundzada, who he says has endorsed Taliban Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani's Arabic language book The Islamic Emirate And Its System. In this book, Haqqani supports a fringe Islamic opinion of preferring the choice of one of the Prophet Muhammad's wives, Sawdah Bint Zam'ah, who chose to stay at home until her death.
Baheer says Haqqani ignores his other wives and other female companions that played an active role in many sectors of society and how they served as students and teachers for men.
“This fringe opinion is not held by all Taliban leaders but is one that the current absolute sovereign, the Taliban emir, seems to be convinced of,” he said.
Butt says that even Haqqani has acknowledged the principle that if there is something that women need to act upon, then that is also something that women need to learn about.
“I hope the Taliban authorities will come to realize in the not-too-distant future that education for women will make Afghan women into better Muslims,” he says. “It will enable them to make a stronger contribution to the well-being of their country.”
Two years after grappling with the issue, Western diplomats appear to be encouraging Afghan conservative and clerical circles to find ways to end the ban.
Tom West, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan, recently tweeted that Afghan women must be educated and contribute to the economy to help their country stand on its own two feet.
“If change to policies is made, it will be because Afghans have asked for it, not a result of foreign requests,” he wrote.