The Taliban have come under sharp criticism from rights groups after the detention of Mojtaba Mohammadi, a young civil rights activist, who was deported from Iran and is now being held in Charikar, Parwan province.
According to his family, Mohammadi was arrested 20 days ago by Taliban intelligence operatives in Bayan Olya shortly after his return. His brother told KabulNow that the activist had participated in protest activities against the Taliban while abroad.
Civil society organisations and women’s protest movements have raised alarm, alleging that Mohammadi is being subjected to severe physical and psychological torture in custody. They have demanded his immediate and unconditional release.
Human rights monitors note that Mohammadi’s ordeal is part of a broader pattern of Taliban abuses, with activists, journalists, former officials, and media workers facing arbitrary detention, intimidation, and violence. Deportees from Iran and Pakistan are seen as especially at risk.
A recent UN report also documented widespread torture and threats against Afghans forcibly returned from neighbouring countries, despite the Taliban’s repeated claims of a general amnesty. Rights groups argue that in practice, there is little accountability and no genuine protection for dissidents or returnees.
Arbitrary arrests remain common, legal processes are opaque, and allegations of torture under Taliban rule continue to mount, deepening concerns over systematic violations of fundamental rights in Afghanistan.
