Taliban Arrests Eight for Informing Media About Cleric's Death

On Monday, local sources told Afghanistan International that the Taliban members had arrested eight people in the Khas Uruzgan district of Uruzgan province.

According to these sources, the individuals had apparently been detained for informing media outlets about the killing of Rustam Rahimi, a mosque cleric in the Shashpar area of Uruzgan.

Local residents stressed that the Taliban members are arresting people instead of finding and holding the perpetrators of the murder accountable.

Sources confirmed that on Sunday afternoon, the Taliban members arrested Rohullah Hosseini, Taher Moradi, Mistari Dawood, Zia, and Farzad. The identities of the other three individuals have not yet been determined.

Local residents told Afghanistan International on Saturday that two unknown individuals invited Rustam Rahimi to the mosque and killed him with knives.
Some media reports indicated that "individuals in Taliban uniforms" carried out the murder.

The motive and reason behind this killing remain unclear, and the Taliban have not commented on the murder of this Hazara cleric.

Residents of the Shashpar area said that this is the 21st murder in the area since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.