Taliban Detains Former Employee of Governor’s Press Office in Parwan

The family of Zamir Zaheer, a press office employee of the former governor in Parwan, said that he remains in prison since his arrest by the Taliban intelligence department in Jabul Saraj on December 5.

Zaheer's family said that he had gone to Iran following the takeover of power by Taliban in August 2021.

A family member, who preferred not to disclose their identity for security reasons, informed Afghanistan International that on December 5, two Taliban members came to Zaheer's residence in Qala Sahra village and took him with them.

As per the source, there has been no information about Zaheer's fate over the past one month.

It has been reported that Zaheer previously worked as an employee in the press office of the governor during the previous government in Parwan, actively engaging and collaborating with local media.

The cause for his arrest is unclear, and the Taliban has not commented on the matter.

As per the source, family members of Zaheer reached out to the Taliban intelligence offices in both Parwan and Kabul. However, the Taliban asserted that they did not detain him.

The source added that during the initial days of Zaheer's detention, there was reception on his mobile phone, but no one responded.

Following the Taliban’s takeover of power, the group announced a general amnesty. As per the decree from the Taliban's leader, individuals who served in the previous government and security forces will not be subject to interrogation based on their past responsibilities.

Nonetheless, in the last two years, there have been numerous reports of the Taliban detaining and subjecting military personnel, former civil servants, and journalists to torture.

In June, the Taliban detained Sabro Rezaei, the former head of women's police recruitment in Parwan province police command. She was later released from detention.