KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in western Herat province reported that Taliban agents have detained Abdul Qoddus Yasinzada, an education activist and the founder of a private school.
Sources told KabulNow today that the activist, founder of Resalat Private High School, was detained in Herat city three weeks ago and has been held in a Taliban intelligence detention center since then.
Sources said that since the activist’s detention, community elders and his family have made significant efforts to secure his release, but these efforts have yet to yield any results.
The reason for the activist’s detention remains unclear, as the Taliban authorities have not disclosed any information on the matter.
The relatives of the activist remain deeply concerned about his fate and well-being, as the Taliban have repeatedly promised his release, yet he remains in custody with no information provided to his family or friends.
In a similar incident on Wednesday, Taliban agents detained a social activist named Hameed Qarloq in northern Takhar province for an unknown reason. Sources said he was collecting donations to rebuild a school in his village, and his detention may be linked to this activity.
Since their return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban, despite their declared “general amnesty,” have arrested, detained, tortured, and, in some cases, killed dozens of activists, rights defenders, critics of their policies, and former government officials.
UN experts and human rights groups have raised concerns about the Taliban’s ongoing arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and acts of revenge killings, urging the group to honor their declared “general amnesty” and halt such actions.
