Young Man Dies Under Taliban Torture In Takhar

Local sources in Takhar province report that Abdul Nasir, a resident of Farkhar district, has died as a result of torture by the Taliban’s intelligence forces.

According to these sources, Taliban intelligence officers arrested Abdul Nasir on Tuesday, and handed over his body to his family on Friday night.

Sources told Afghanistan International that Abdul Nasir was detained from his shop in the Tot Bagh area of Taloqan. The Taliban have yet to disclose the charges against him or provide any explanation for his arrest.

A close relative of Abdul Nasir stated that after his detention, several local elders attempted to negotiate his release with Taliban officials. The Taliban reportedly confirmed his arrest and assured them that he would be freed soon. However, on Friday night, 1 March, his body was returned to his family.

Relatives of the deceased claim that visible signs of torture were present on his body, leading them to believe he died as a result of mistreatment while in Taliban custody.

Pattern of Deaths in Taliban Prisons

This is not the first case of a detainee dying in Taliban custody. Over the past three years, numerous reports have surfaced of individuals dying due to torture in Taliban prisons. Human rights organisations have repeatedly accused the Taliban of unlawful detentions, arbitrary arrests, and the systematic torture of prisoners.

In October 2024, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s supreme leader, acknowledged reports of prisoners dying under torture during a visit to Kunduz province. He stated that he had received reports of such incidents and contacted prison officials to inquire whether these deaths were carried out under judicial orders or occurred without legal authorisation. The prison official reportedly denied any knowledge of the incidents, claiming that subordinates had carried out the killings.

Despite acknowledging the issue, Akhundzada has not announced any action to hold those responsible for the torture and deaths of detainees accountable. The Taliban leadership remains silent on addressing or preventing further incidents of abuse in detention centres.