Manizha Sediqi: The Reality of Taliban Prisons Differs from Zabihullah Mujahid’s Claims

Kabul Times News | A Former Taliban Prisoner's Testimony

Manizha Sediqi, a women’s rights activist and former Taliban detainee, has rejected recent statements by Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claiming that there is no torture or mistreatment in Taliban-run prisons. She says her personal experience during detention presents a very different picture of prison conditions under Taliban rule.

According to Sediqi, who says she spent seven months in Taliban custody, she was subjected to repeated interrogations, psychological pressure, and severe restrictions throughout her detention.

In her remarks, she stated:

"What Zabihullah Mujahid says does not match the realities that I witnessed and experienced in prison. There was no effective access to legal counsel, no transparent judicial process, and no independent mechanism for seeking justice inside Taliban prisons."

The women's rights activist further claims that during her detention she was repeatedly pressured and asked to provide confessions that aligned with the demands of interrogators. She also stated that she appeared before Taliban courts on three occasions but was denied a fair defense and a transparent legal process.

Sediqi additionally alleges that she witnessed various violations of the rights of female prisoners during her imprisonment. She described incidents of violence, psychological abuse, and harsh prison conditions, adding that some detainees suffered severe mental health crises as a result of prolonged pressure and mistreatment.

She also claims to have witnessed incidents in Pul-e-Charkhi prison that, in her view, constituted serious violations of human rights. These allegations have not been independently verified by external sources.

According to Sediqi, the difficult prison conditions and psychological pressure pushed some detainees to the brink of despair. She alleges that she witnessed cases of attempted suicide among prisoners during her detention.

The former detainee further stated that she observed women being subjected to flogging under Taliban judicial rulings and described such practices as a clear violation of human dignity and women's fundamental rights.

Sediqi emphasized that the testimonies of victims and former prisoners should not be ignored and called for an independent investigation into prison conditions and allegations regarding the treatment of detainees.

The Taliban have repeatedly denied reports of torture, mistreatment, and human rights violations in detention facilities under their control. However, international human rights organizations have consistently called for independent access to prisons and transparent investigations into the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan.