The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced the release of over 2,000 prisoners and the reduction of sentences for another 3,000 to mark Eid al-Fitr across Afghanistan, the Khaama Press news agency reported on March 29.
The Supreme Court has reportedly announced the release of 2,463 prisoners across Afghanistan to mark the occasion of Eid al-Fitr. The release was ordered by Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, as part of a gesture of goodwill for the holiday.
Additionally, the court reported a reduction in the prison sentences of 3,152 other prisoners, though no details were provided regarding the specific charges or crimes of the released prisoners.
According to Khaama Press, the announcement was made on March 29, via a public statement from the Taliban’s Supreme Court. However, the court did not provide specifics about the nature of the crimes or the duration of imprisonment for the freed individuals.
Meanwhile, some citizens have raised concerns, alleging that the Taliban has detained several individuals on unknown charges and kept them in prisons for months without formal charges or trials, Khaama Press says, noting that there are also reports of torture and ill-treatment.
Previously, the Taliban’s prison administration reportedly revealed that between 10,000 to 11,000 prisoners are held in Taliban-run jails, including 1,000 women prisoners and nearly 900 minors. This disclosure has drawn additional criticism from human rights organizations globally.
Human rights groups have repeatedly accused the Taliban of violations, including arbitrary detention, torture, and even killings of prisoners. These practices have raised alarms from international bodies regarding the Taliban’s approach to justice and human rights in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the release of prisoners may be seen as a sign of leniency, the overall concerns regarding the treatment and conditions of those still incarcerated in Taliban-run facilities persist. The international community continues to call for improvements in the treatment of detainees and greater transparency within the Taliban-controlled justice system.
