KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province say Taliban intelligence forces have detained at least 10 residents in the Dara district.
According to the sources, the arrests took place on Monday (January 19) in the village of Malima. Those detained were reportedly members of a religious group known as Fayzaniya(a little-known Sufi-inspired religious group not officially recognized by the Taliban.) and were arrested while teaching books related to the group inside a private room.
Taliban local officials in Panjshir have not yet commented on the arrests.
Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have repeatedly detained and imprisoned residents of Panjshir on various charges. The province, which was once a center of resistance to Taliban rule, has remained under tight security measures and restrictions.
The Taliban have also faced accusations of suppressing followers of Sufism. Human rights groups and local sources report that followers of several Sufi orders across Afghanistan have been detained or questioned, as the authorities tighten control over religious practices, they consider unapproved.
The latest arrests come amid broader human rights concerns in the province, particularly regarding freedom of expression and access to education. In November, the Taliban also detained a schoolteacher in Panjshir after he shared images allegedly showing a school set on fire by Taliban members. Local sources say the arrest was linked to documenting and sharing information about attacks on education facilities.
