Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, said in an exclusive interview with media outlets that reports of torture and mistreatment in detention centers and prisons run by the Taliban are false. He stated that any form of abuse of detainees is prohibited under the group’s laws.
Speaking with Navida Khushbu, Senior Editor of Afghanistan International, Mujahid said that no torture is carried out from the moment of arrest through detention and eventual release. He emphasized that torture is forbidden at all stages of detention and imprisonment and claimed that such practices do not occur within intelligence agencies, police departments, or prisons.
The Taliban spokesperson distinguished between “torture” and “legal punishment,” stating that any punishment is carried out solely in accordance with Islamic law and in proportion to the nature of the crime, rather than arbitrarily.
He further added that if any case of torture or mistreatment by officials or personnel is proven, those responsible will be dealt with according to existing laws.
These remarks come as international organizations and human rights groups have repeatedly expressed concerns about the treatment of prisoners in Afghanistan.
The United Nations Security Council recently reported cases of sexual violence against women by Taliban officials and members. According to the report, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan documented 21 cases of sexual violence in 2025, including gang rape, involving 15 women and 6 girls.
In addition, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan stated that a number of women and girls who protested Taliban policies or opposed gender-based restrictions had been arbitrarily detained and subjected to mistreatment, torture, and sexual violence while in custody.
However, Mujahid rejected these reports and said that the allegations of torture and mistreatment in Taliban prisons are “far from the truth” and are not accepted by the group.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
