The silent crisis of increasing female prisoners in Afghanistan is a serious wake-up call for the global conscience.
More than double the number of women in prison in Afghanistan; World Torture Report 2026 warns
The World Torture Report 2026 has reported a significant increase in the number of women prisoners in Afghanistan over the past four years and warned of the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.
According to the report, the number of women prisoners in Afghanistan has increased from 840 in 2021 to 1,825 in 2025; statistics show that the number of women prisoners has more than doubled during this period.
The World Organization Against Torture has announced that Afghan women and girls continue to face widespread and systematic restrictions in the areas of education, employment, freedom of movement, and participation in social and public life.
The organization also expressed concern about the situation of detainees, their detention conditions in prisons, and limited access to a fair trial, and emphasized that the continuation of this situation is a serious violation of fundamental human rights.
The report calls on the international community and international institutions to take effective measures to improve the human rights situation in Afghanistan and protect the rights of women and prisoners.
The World Torture Report 2026 is being published at a time when human rights organizations have repeatedly warned in recent years about the increasing restrictions against Afghan women and girls and their consequences for fundamental freedoms and human dignity.
Report: Shahbano Noori
The silent crisis of increasing female prisoners in Afghanistan is a serious wake-up call for the global conscience.
