Shocking Conditions in Taliban Prisons in Herat: Sexual Abuse, Drug Trafficking, and Extortion
Reliable sources report appalling conditions in Taliban prisons in Herat province, including sexual abuse of children, drug trafficking within the prisons, and extortion by Taliban judges.
Kokcha News Agency – Reports from inside Taliban prisons in Herat province paint a grim picture of the conditions faced by inmates. According to these sources, children in the prisons are systematically subjected to sexual abuse, while drug trafficking has become a major issue within the prison walls. Additionally, children as young as seven years old are being held on charges of theft.
Sexual Abuse and Drug Trafficking
Sources inside the Taliban prisons in Herat report that child inmates are routinely subjected to sexual abuse. Furthermore, drug trafficking within the prisons has become a significant problem. Taliban soldiers sell drugs at exorbitant prices to inmates, and some have even used the profits from these sales to fund multiple marriages.
Extortion by Taliban Judges
Prisoners and their families report widespread extortion by Taliban judges. According to them, no case is processed without bribes. One notorious Taliban judge, Khan Mohammad Hanafi, is described as one of the biggest extortionists, refusing to handle any case without payment.
Suicides After Release
Reports indicate that some prisoners have committed suicide after their release due to the psychological trauma and harrowing experiences they endured in prison. One such case involved a young man who, after being released, took his own life due to drug addiction and the traumatic experiences he faced in prison. In a letter he left behind, he wrote that he could not bear the suffering he endured in prison.
Conditions for Women in Taliban Prisons
The conditions for women in Taliban prisons are reported to be even worse than those for men. Female prisoners are subjected to sexual abuse but remain silent out of fear of stigma. Some detained women have told media outlets that they were raped, tortured, and forced into labor while in prison.
Prisoners’ Plea
Prisoners inside the jails have called on external media to report on the conditions in the prisons so that the situation can be brought to the attention of senior Taliban officials and the prisons can be thoroughly investigated.
