KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Local sources in Daykundi say that a man in Kiti district of the province complained to worshippers at a mosque that “armed men wearing Taliban military uniforms” entered his home at night and “raped” his wife and daughter in front of his eyes.
According to the sources, the man made the complaint 10 days ago (Friday, May 15) after Friday prayers at the central mosque of Kiti district’s main market, saying that if no one came to his aid, he would “commit suicide.”
According to information from the sources, the man said that at around 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13, the men entered his home in the village of Pasinak in central Kiti district under the pretext of conducting a “search operation.” They allegedly beat him, tied his hands, and then raped his wife and daughter in front of him.
According to the sources, he told those present at the mosque that the men who raped his wife and daughter identified themselves as “Taliban officers,” and that he recognized them as “non-local” individuals who were wearing “military uniforms.”
Sources say that local elders promised the man that they would approach Taliban authorities and ask them to identify and punish those responsible for the “crime” and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
According to reports from the sources, one day after the man’s complaint, local Taliban officials and community elders gathered in a meeting to examine the matter.
According to information from the sources, Taliban officials said that the raid on the man’s house and the rape of his wife and daughter had not been carried out by their forces, but so far no other follow-up action has been taken regarding the case.
Sources say that local residents believe the Taliban are responsible for the assault on the mother and daughter, arguing that no armed non-local individuals other than members of the group are present in the area.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, multiple cases of “sexual assault” by members of the group against women and girls have been reported in different provinces.
Taliban officials, however, have not confirmed the involvement of their members in such incidents and have said that those responsible for such crimes would be punished in accordance with Islamic law.
Moreover, concerns raised in the recent allegations from Daykundi echo findings documented in an earlier report by Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, which detailed serious allegations of sexual violence and abuse against women under Taliban rule.
Based on firsthand testimonies and credible evidence, Bennett reported that women detained by the Taliban, including those arrested in January 2024 for allegedly wearing “inappropriate” hijabs, described experiences of physical abuse, verbal harassment, and sexual assault while in custody. Survivors recounted being beaten during interrogations and subjected to invasive and degrading treatment.
At the same time, the report emphasized that many such cases likely remain unreported due to deep social stigma, fear of retaliation, and a culture of victim-blaming. Severe restrictions on women’s movement have also prevented survivors from accessing medical care, psychological support, and legal assistance.
Furthermore, Bennett warned of a broader increase in gender-based violence since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, noting that women’s exclusion from the justice system and public life has left them with almost no institutional protection. He described the Taliban’s systematic treatment of women and girls as a form of “gender apartheid” and called for international discussions on recognizing it as a crime against humanity.
Taken together, Bennett’s earlier findings provide broader context for the recent allegations emerging from Daykundi. They reinforce longstanding international concerns that cases of abuse against women, particularly in remote areas with limited oversight, may reflect deeper structural patterns of impunity, restricted accountability, and persistent human rights violations in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
