Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Taliban’s Chief Justice, during a visit to northern and northeastern provinces of Afghanistan, warned that “a system built on oppression will not endure.” He urged Taliban officials and forces to refrain from oppression, abuse, and improper treatment of prisoners and accused individuals.
The Taliban Supreme Court announced on Saturday in a statement that Abdul Hakim Haqqani had traveled to Kunduz, Badakhshan, Balkh, Jawzjan, and Baghlan provinces. According to the statement, he met with local Taliban officials to discuss how to treat the people and prisoners.
In his remarks, Haqqani emphasized that Taliban officials must appreciate the current circumstances, as, according to him, an “Islamic system” is in place in Afghanistan and there is no foreign interference in the country.
He also stressed the importance of following legal principles when dealing with accused individuals, stating that no one has the right to punish someone arbitrarily. According to him, prisoners and those accused of crimes must be treated properly and humanely.
The Taliban Chief Justice added that any form of oppression, abuse, or improper treatment of prisoners and criminals is unacceptable, and Taliban forces must avoid such behavior. Addressing the group’s forces, he said, “Make sure no one is oppressed, because a system that oppresses will not last.”
Abdul Hakim Haqqani is considered an influential figure and one of the founders of the Taliban movement, playing an important role in the group’s current structure.
These statements come as the Taliban government has been accused by international organizations and human rights groups of carrying out summary trials, arbitrary detentions, torture of prisoners, and shooting accused individuals without following legal procedures.
Reports from the United Nations and some human rights organizations indicate that in recent years, hundreds of former Afghan security personnel have been killed, tortured, or disappeared. There are also reports of the killing of individuals accused of being affiliated with ISIS without trial and the deaths of some political prisoners due to torture.
This is not the first time that a senior Taliban official has warned about the consequences of oppression and improper conduct by the group’s forces.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
