KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – More than 20,000 people are currently held in prisons and detention centers under Taliban control, including women and minors, according to Taliban authorities.
Ahmad Yousuf Mistari, head of the Taliban’s Prison Affairs Administration, said during a press conference on Sunday, September 1, that 11,000 individuals are imprisoned, including 1,000 women and around 700 minors. Additionally, 10,000 to 12,000 people have been detained but have not yet been sentenced, and they are awaiting court decisions. Mistari clarified that these detainees are not considered prisoners until their sentences are finalized.
Mohammad Naseem Lalahand, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Prison Affairs, confirmed to KabulNow that the total number of inmates and detainees exceeds 20,000.
When asked about the length of detention, he said it depends on the decision of the regime’s Supreme Court. However, he did not provide a gender breakdown of the detainees.
Mistari revealed that around 150 foreign nationals are also in Taliban prisons. Most of these foreigners are from neighboring countries and have been convicted of crimes like fraud and corruption.
When questioned about U.S. citizens, Mistari denied their presence in civilian prisons but acknowledged the possibility of their detention in other Taliban-controlled facilities. Reports suggest that two U.S. citizens are currently in Taliban custody.
Taliban authorities also reported that 3,200 prisoners were released during Ramadan and the Eid holidays, following orders from the Taliban’s reclusive leader who is based in the group’s spiritual stronghold in Kandahar. The sentences of 1,655 others were reduced. In addition, 2,241 inmates have completed religious education programs, while 6,408 are currently enrolled.
The UN and rights groups say that arbitrary detentions have become common occurrences under the Taliban rule. Many of those arrested or detained include ex-officials, members of the former security forces, members of resistance groups, women activists, and media workers, among others.
An earlier report by KabulNow revealed that many of the detainees or inmates in Taliban detention centers and prisons are confined in cramped and unhygienic cells, where they endure physical and psychological torture, including beatings, electric shocks, and other abusive methods. They are isolated from their families and denied any access to legal representation.
