The arrest of Naveedullah Fitrat, a teacher and critic of the Taliban, in the city of Herat has sparked reactions from a number of social media users as well as political, civil society, and media figures. Fitrat had previously accused the Taliban of authoritarianism and of using religion to advance ethnic interests. The Taliban arrested him on Wednesday, August 26.
According to reports, a family was also detained for hosting Fitrat. Taliban officials have so far provided no explanation for the arrest of the teacher or the family members, and further details about their current condition remain unavailable.
Fitrat’s detention has drawn widespread reactions from civil society activists and journalists advocating freedom of expression. Khalid Qadiri, a journalist and former Taliban prisoner, wrote on X in response: “A government that is afraid of two words of criticism is not worth a rupee.”
Qadiri himself was previously detained for publishing critical material about the Taliban. He was arrested on March 17, 2022, and a Taliban military court in Herat sentenced him to one year in prison. He was released after nearly 10 months in detention.
Bahar Mehr, a researcher and political activist, described Fitrat as “a prominent example of popular resistance against oppression and the continued violation of citizens’ rights and freedoms.” She said Fitrat had “consciously and single-handedly” stood up to the Taliban inside Afghanistan and called on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and human rights organizations to take action for his immediate release.
Civil society activist Jafar Ataei also described Fitrat’s arrest as a “supreme act of sacrifice and selflessness” given the current circumstances, saying that speaking openly against the Taliban is extremely difficult. He urged social media users not to allow Fitrat to be forgotten and to bring his detention to the attention of international organizations.
Mohammad Sadeq Sedaqat, a civil society activist and freelance journalist, described Fitrat’s detention as “a clear example of the suppression of freedom of expression and the stifling of thought.” He said a voice that has stood against injustice and discrimination should not remain imprisoned, and called for Fitrat’s immediate and unconditional release.
Fahim Kohdamani, a writer and media activist, said Fitrat had criticized “discrimination, oppression and injustice” and was seeking justice. He linked the teacher’s arrest to his recent statements, although the Taliban have yet to provide an official explanation for the reasons behind his detention.
The Taliban reportedly arrested Fitrat at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26, near Cinema Square in Herat city. Before his arrest, Fitrat said in a video posted on social media: “This may be my last video, but I will speak the truth before I die.”
In the video, Fitrat accused the Taliban of “placing a religious mask over ethnic objectives.” He called on the Taliban to separate religion from politics and accused the group of establishing an authoritarian system, disrupting social order, and using religion for political and ethnic purposes.
Several citizens have also described Fitrat’s arrest on social media as an attack on freedom of expression. Farina Janbaz wrote on X that the Taliban cannot tolerate criticism and that Fitrat should be released. Zabihullah Yari said: “Without freedom of expression, a country can never develop.”
In contrast, another citizen, Delawar Shah, urged people to remain silent under the current circumstances to avoid harm to themselves and their families. Such comments reflect concerns among some citizens about the consequences of criticizing the Taliban and the possibility of pressure being placed on critics and their families inside Afghanistan.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
