He demanded higher ed for Afghan girls. He was jailed. Angelina Jolie targets his case
It's been 5 months since Matiullah Wesa, an activist who urged an end to Taliban bans on girls' education, was arrested. Media attention has faded. Now Angelina Jolie is making a plea in his behalf.
On March 27, the Taliban arrested and jailed Afghan education activist Matiullah Wesa. The cofounder of a nonprofit group dedicated to promoting education in rural parts of Afghanistan, he had been speaking out to demand that the Taliban reverse their decisions in 2022 to close high schools for girls and ban girls from university.
The United Nations and various diplomats called for his release. High-profile media groups wrote about him and the outpouring of support for his case. According to the Associated Press, "the U.N. urged authorities in Kabul to clarify Wesa's whereabouts, reasons for his arrest and ensure his access to legal representation and contact with family."
Nearly five months later, Wesa is still in prison. Media attention
