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AFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN SUPREME COURT PARDONS OVER 4,500 PRISONERS FOR EID AL-FITR

March 24, 2026:

The Taliban’s Supreme Court has announced the release of 4,596 prisoners in observance of Eid al-Fitr.
In a statement issued on March 18, 2026 the court said that the sentences of an additional 4,407 inmates were also reduced during their imprisonment.
According to the Supreme Court, the releases and sentence reductions were carried out under the order of Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and followed a specific procedural framework.
The court did not provide further details on the mechanism or criteria used for the pardons and sentence reductions.
The move follows a pattern of mass releases or sentence reductions by the Taliban during Islamic holidays.
On Eid al-Adha in June 2025, the group’s supreme court reported that 2,509 prisoners were released or had their sentences shortened.
The total number of detainees in Taliban-run prisons remains uncertain, with authorities giving varying figures over time. Last year, the Taliban reported holding over 20,000 people, including women, children, and foreign nationals.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have detained thousands of people, including former government employees, journalists, activists, women, and critics of the regime. While some detainees have been released after giving guarantees, many remain in custody.
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.