AFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN RELEASE OR EASE SENTENCES OF OVER 2,500 PRISONERS AHEAD OF EID

June 5, 2025:

The Taliban have released 1,559 prisoners and shortened the sentences of 950 others on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the group’s supreme court announced on June 4, 2025.
In a statement, the court said these actions took place across eight provinces, including Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Panjshir, Parwan, Kapisa, Khost, and Nimruz.
According to the court, the decision was ordered by Abdul Hakim Haqqani, head of the Taliban’s Supreme Court.
Prisoners eligible for release or sentence reduction were those who demonstrated good behavior, adhered to Islamic principles, and participated in religious programs while in custody.
On a similar occasion during Eid al-Fitr in March, the Taliban released or reduced the sentences of 5,615 prisoners, the court added.
The total number of people currently held in Taliban-run prisons remains uncertain, as authorities have provided varying figures. Last year, the Taliban reported holding over 20,000 people, including women, children, and foreign nationals.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has detained hundreds of people, including women, activists, journalists, former government employees, and critics of the regime. While some have been released after giving guarantees, many remain imprisoned.
There have been growing concerns over conditions in Taliban detention centers, with reports of widespread abuse, including torture, sexual violence, and forced labour.
A joint investigation by The Guardian and Afghan outlet Zan Times published in November 2024 revealed testimonies from women describing rape, beatings, and witnessing the deaths of children while imprisoned.
Human rights groups continue to call for independent access to Taliban prisons, warning that without oversight, detainees—especially women and children—face serious risks of mistreatment.