KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Taliban authorities in eastern Nangarhar province have released 377 prisoners, including 22 women and 26 children, and shortened the sentences of 351 others on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr.
In a statement on Monday, the office of the Taliban governor in Nangarhar announced the releases and sentence reductions but did not provide further details, including the prisoners’ crimes or the length of their sentences.
The move follows a pattern of mass releases or sentence reductions by the Taliban during Islamic holidays. On Eid al-Adha in June 2025, the group’s supreme court reported that 2,509 prisoners were released or had their sentences shortened.
The total number of detainees in Taliban-run prisons remains uncertain, with authorities giving varying figures over time. Last year, the Taliban reported holding over 20,000 people, including women, children, and foreign nationals.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have detained thousands of people, including former government employees, journalists, activists, women, and critics of the regime. While some detainees have been released after giving guarantees, many remain in custody.
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the conditions in Taliban-run prisons, reporting widespread abuse, including torture, sexual violence, and forced labor. A joint investigation by The Guardian and Afghan outlet Zan Times, published in November 2024, documented testimonies from women prisoners describing rape, beatings, and the deaths of children in custody.
International and local rights groups continue to call for independent access to Taliban detention centers, warning that without oversight, detainees—particularly women and children—face serious risks of mistreatment.
