Women’s rights activist shot dead in northern Afghanistan

Frozan Safi, 29, is believed to be the first women's rights defender to be killed since Taliban return to power

A 29-year-old activist and economics lecturer, Frozan Safi, has been shot and killed in northern Afghanistan, in what appears to be the first known death of a women's rights defender since the Taliban swept to power almost three months ago.

Frozan Safi's body was identified in a morgue in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif after she went missing on 20 October. We recognised her by her clothes. Bullets had destroyed her face," said Safi's sister, Rita, who is a doctor.