Because I'm a woman: Kerala vlogger posts SOS from Afghanistan after 'arrest'

A popular woman travel vlogger from Kerala, who has been travelling across Afghanistan and posting videos from the country, on Monday claimed that she was "arrested" by the "Mujahideen" in Bamyan and sought help in contacting the Indian embassy. However, nearly three hours after posting an SOS, the vlogger said she was allowed to leave after reaching a settlement with Taliban members.

In a post on her Facebook page, 'Backpacker Arunima' shared what she described as a translation of an official communication, according to which she had been arrested by the mujahideen in Afghanistan.

The message showed, "You were arrested by the Mujahideen just now because you do not have an official letter."

Sharing the communication, seeking help to contact the Indian embassy, Arunina wrote, "I am in trouble in Afghanistan. I am in Bamyan".

The post did not provide details about the circumstances of her alleged arrest or identify those who had detained her.

In a subsequent detailed social media post, however, Arunima said she had been released by the Mujahideen and explained what she said had happened between her SOS message and her release.

"According to the law of this country, a woman cannot travel alone," the authorities in Bamyan told her, claiming that she had violated the law and would be arrested, the vlogger said.

"The 'crime' I had committed was travelling alone as a woman in a country where women are not allowed to travel alone. A permit is required for every province. I hadn't obtained those permits because they would not issue them to a woman travelling alone," she explained.

Arunima said she had previously been denied a permit in Jalalabad because she was travelling alone.

She said she became extremely frightened after being told that she had violated the law and contacted a man who had earlier helped her reach Bamyan. He then spoke to the authorities on her behalf, she said.

According to Arunima, the Mujahideen insisted that she obtain a permit and travel with a guide. She said she was eventually allowed to continue towards her next destination after discussions with them.

"I told them that I was exiting this country and travelling to Uzbekistan. They said that because I had stayed in the country for so many days while violating the rules, I would have to pay a fine and that I would not be allowed to go anywhere unless I paid it.

"So I spoke to them and managed to settle the matter. They eventually told me that I could leave for the next country without a permit," she added.

The vlogger said she faced detentions and restrictions in Afghanistan because she was a woman, while her male friends had been able to travel through the Taliban-ruled country without similar difficulties.

"I had to go through all of this simply because I am a woman. Many of my male friends have travelled through this country. None of them had any problems. Some of my female friends have travelled here too, but they all travelled either with a guide or alongside a man," she continued.

Further narrating her ordeal, she said, "Their decisions are their laws here. There is no police or prison or anything like that. The Taliban here, every person is a Taliban. That doesn't mean everyone is a Taliban; there are many people here, but they are the ones who make the decisions."

"I held on to that man's hands and feet and begged him, and that's why they didn't arrest me. For a few hours, I was literally going through hell. I was so tense and didn't know what to do. I felt like I was about to die. I felt that something was going to happen to me," she added.

Arunima, who has been travelling alone across the world, entered Afghanistan several weeks ago and has regularly posted updates from her journey. She had decided to wear a purdah during most of her travels in Afghanistan in an effort to make her experience easier in the country, according to her social media posts.

She also said she had been stopped for checks and questioned by Taliban members multiple times during her journey through Afghanistan.

WOMAN HAD NO PERMIT, WAS NOT KIDNAPPED: DIPLOMATIC SOURCES

Diplomatic sources told India Today TV that the woman entered Afghanistan without a tourism permit and was not accompanied by a government-approved travel guide, as required under the country’s regulations for foreign tourists.

"This woman entered Afghanistan from Tajikistan. She is travelling alone and does not have either a tourism permit or a government-approved travel guide accompanying her," the sources said.

"She was assisted by local authorities in finding accommodation and has been provided assistance. She was not kidnapped, held or arrested at any point," the sources added.

Neither Kabul nor New Delhi has officially commented on the woman’s allegations.