KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban has detained Rahmtullah Hakimi, who served as head of the teacher training department in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province under the previous government, shortly after he returned from Iran, a relative told KabulNow.
Hakimi was arrested by Taliban intelligence agents in Herat province about a month ago, according to his relative who declined to be named for security reasons, saying his family still has no information about his whereabouts, condition, or the reason for his detention.
Hakimi held the position of head of the teacher training department in Panjshir during the Islamic Republic era but resigned following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. He had been pursuing a PhD in Iran and recently returned after completing his studies and defending his dissertation.
The relative said Hakimi had no contact with any political or armed groups in Afghanistan while in Iran.
The reason for his detention remains unknown, and Taliban authorities have not commented on the case.
His relative appealed to human rights organizations and activists to advocate for Hakimi’s immediate release.
Panjshir, a mountainous province northeast of Kabul and historically a stronghold of resistance against the Taliban, has been subject to ongoing security operations and restrictions. In recent years, the Taliban have detained dozens of residents, including activists, journalists, and teachers, on various charges, such as alleged links to armed groups or possession of weapons.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have documented patterns of arbitrary arrests, torture, and collective punishment in Panjshir, describing some Taliban actions there as potential war crimes. The group has faced similar accusations of detaining and mistreating former government officials and security personnel across Afghanistan.
