Taliban Urge Protection of Prisoners’ Rights Amid Detention Concerns

DID Press: Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, has called for the protection of prisoners’ rights and improved detention conditions during a visit to Kabul’s Pul-e-Charkhi prison, as concerns persist over the transparency and legality of arrests under the Taliban administration.

Leading a delegation from the Taliban’s Commission for Administrative Reform and Salaries, Hanafi inspected sanitation, healthcare services, access to medicine, food distribution, accommodation, and what officials described as the observance of prisoners’ rights under Islamic law.

Taliban authorities said the visit aimed to assess prison conditions and improve services for detainees. Hanafi emphasized the need for respectful treatment of prisoners, addressing existing challenges, and enhancing detention facilities.

However, the visit comes amid continued criticism from human rights organizations and independent observers, who have reported that many detainees have been held without transparent judicial procedures. According to these reports, numerous arrests have allegedly been based on local complaints, political suspicions, or personal disputes rather than clear legal processes.

Rights advocates argue that commitments to protecting prisoners’ rights will remain insufficient unless accompanied by judicial reforms, greater transparency in detention procedures, and independent oversight of the prison system.