former Director of Broadcasting at Tajala Radio –
Afganistan
Since the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan, numerous reports of severe human rights violations—especially in prisons—have been published. Shocking accounts of torture, sexual violence, humiliating treatment, and total deprivation of basic human rights paint a clear picture of the dire conditions prisoners face under Taliban rule.
Zarmina Pariani
A Protester and Torture Victim Zarmina Pariani, a women’s rights activist and civil protester, has been arrested twice by the Taliban. She was detained for 27 days the first time and 10 days the second time, along with her three sisters. Pariani says that in Taliban prisons, they were subjected to torture, beatings, and sexual insults. She adds: “The Taliban know neither religion nor Sharia; they have no understanding of even the most basic concepts of human rights. They would whip prisoners, pour water over their heads, injure them, and sometimes even kill them.” Pariani also calls the Taliban’s proclaimed general amnesty a big lie and stresses that even liking a photo on social media can lead to arrest.
Nazar Mohammad
Former Officer of the Republic and Victim of Severe Violence – Nazar Mohammad, a former military officer, also shares a painful account of six months in Taliban custody. He says the Taliban treat prisoners like „football,“ coming in every few days just to torture them. “Food was given to me through a hole in the wall. I didn’t bathe for six months, and my hands and feet were tied. They enjoyed beating, and the person who hit hardest was praised by others.” Nazar Mohammad now lives in Pakistan and speaks of repeated threats to his and his family’s lives. He adds that human rights organizations have provided him with no help so far.
Human Rights Experts Perspectives
Manila Malakzai, a human rights activist, describes the condition of female prisoners as „catastrophic,“ stating: “Women in Taliban prisons are subjected to sexual torture in such a way that even after release, they cannot share it with anyone. Widespread psychological and physical torture leads prisoners to suicide.”
United Nations Concerns
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also expressed concern about the condition of prisoners and the widespread human rights abuses during Taliban rule. It has reported: “Over 1,600 cases of human rights violations in Taliban prisons have been recorded, nearly 50% of which involve physical torture and degrading treatment.” Techniques such as electric shocks, suffocation, forced water consumption, blindfolding, and severe beatings are among the methods used by the Taliban to torture prisoners.
Conclusion
Firsthand testimonies and documented evidence from international organizations provide a clear picture of the torture, oppression, and lawlessness in Taliban prisons. While the Afghan people have endured over four decades of war and violence, continued human rights violations by the Taliban are driving society toward psychological and humanitarian collapse. Call to the International Community According to Article 14, Paragraph 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1951 Refugee Convention, the international community is obligated to protect those at risk of torture and abuse and to prevent their forced return to dangerous areas.
