KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Herat province, western Afghanistan, report that a man has died after being severely tortured by the Taliban in the region.
The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the man as Zalmai Sultani, a resident of Herat province. He was arrested by Taliban agents on the morning of Thursday, November 27, and his body was returned to his family later that afternoon.
The sources said the man’s body is set to be buried in his home village in Karukh district, Herat, today.
The reason for his detention and torture remains unclear, and local Taliban authorities have not yet commented on the incident.
Since returning to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban, despite declaring a “general amnesty,” have detained, tortured, and in some cases killed hundreds of people, particularly former ANDSF members, former government employees, and rights activists, across the country.
In most previous cases, the Taliban accused the victims of collaborating with armed resistance groups, possessing weapons, or resisting the regime’s policies.
Rights groups and activists have repeatedly accused the Taliban of severe human rights violations, expressing concerns that arbitrary detention, torture, revenge killings, and enforced disappearances of civilians and former security forces continue despite the regime’s declaration of a “general amnesty.”
They have urged the Taliban to demonstrate genuine commitment to the amnesty announced by their supreme leader, put an end to arbitrary detention, torture, and killings of civilians and former ANDSF members, and hold those responsible for past crimes accountable.
