A former detainee, Nadia Sadat, has made shocking claims about Taliban abuse during her imprisonment in Afghanistan. Speaking to local Afghan media, she said she was stripped naked and subjected to inhumane treatment in custody.
Sadat revealed that Taliban officials recorded photos and videos of her during harsh interrogations. She had been arrested in Mazar-i-Sharif for protesting and for talking to the media about the ban on education for women and girls.
She said that during her detention, Taliban officers sexually assaulted her. They touched her body without consent. Sadat described the Taliban abuse as cruel and degrading.
“The Taliban are devoid of humanity,” she stated. She further claimed that torture was common inside Taliban prisons, especially for female inmates. According to her, conditions inside the cells were horrifying. She said that women prisoners suffered the most under this Taliban brutality.
After spending two weeks behind bars, Sadat was released on bail. A large amount of money was paid to secure her freedom. However, she said her physical and mental health has declined since then. She now struggles with sleep and trauma. In another disturbing claim, she said a senior Taliban commander in Balkh had proposed marriage to her during her detention.
At least ten other women have also spoken out about Taliban abuse in prison. Eight of them reported being raped. Two others said Taliban officers photographed and filmed them naked during questioning. Witnesses further claimed that Taliban officials used mobile phones or installed secret cameras inside women’s cells to record these assaults.
The reports of sexual violence and harassment continue to raise serious concerns. Victims said they were humiliated and abused during detention.
Richard Bent, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, confirmed he is aware of the Taliban abuse allegations. He said that official investigations into the claims are underway.
