According to research by Afghanistan International - Pashto, detainees at the Taliban’s intelligence Agency prisons are subjected to 31 different types of torture during their custody.

This research is based on interviews with 38 individuals who had been detained and tortured by the agents of the Taliban’s intelligence agency. It also includes data from petitions given to the Taliban's Administrative Office of Appeals, wherein released detainees documented their imprisonment and the torture they suffered at the hands of the Taliban’s agents.

A total of 121 petitions had been submitted by individuals who were detained without evidence of criminal activities and who had been subjected to various forms of torture. These petitions described the torture methods and called on the Taliban’s Prime Minister’s Office to investigate the reasons behind their mistreatment.

Afghanistan International - Pashto interviewed nine women and 29 men who had been detained by the Taliban’s Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) across the country for periods ranging from one month to 26 months over the past three years.

Among those detained in provincial prisons, 18 had been transferred to Kabul after a month of imprisonment and torture, and then, later they had been subjected to further mistreatment.

• 16 Types of Torture: Experienced by six detainees
• 9 Types of Torture: Reported by 19 detainees
• 2– 6 Types of Torture: Experienced by the remaining 13 detainees

Of the 38 individuals, five required hospitalisations during their custody, after they were badly tortured. However, only two were taken to a hospital, while the other three received treatment within the Taliban’s intelligence agency facilities.

For safety reasons and to avoid re-arrest of these individual, pseudonyms have been used for those who shared their experiences.

Rebellion Against Taliban Regime:

Sixteen individuals, including six women, had been detained for alleged rebellion against the Taliban regime. They spent between one to 26 months in the Taliban’s intelligence agency’s custody.

These individuals had been accused of inciting rebellion and mobilising people against the Taliban through:

• Social media activity
• Participation in meetings or discussions
• Interviews with media outlets
• Participation in surveys conducted by international organisations
• Anti-Taliban propaganda.

Of these detainees, eight had been arrested in Kabul, three in Panjshir, two in Badakhshan, two in Mazar-e-Sharif, and one in Baghlan.

Connections With Foreign Media Outlets:

Seven individuals, including one woman, had been detained for alleged connections with foreign media outlets. They were imprisoned at the Taliban’s intelligence agency’s facilities for periods ranging from three weeks to four months and were subjected to various forms of torture.

Four of these detainees reported that they had been accused of collaborating with Afghanistan International and sharing information about their regions.

Among these seven, three had been detained in Kabul, one in Nangarhar, one in Paktia, one in Parwan, and one in Kandahar.

Allegations of Connections to ISIS - Khorasan

The Taliban’s intelligence agency detained five individuals on allegations of having ties to ISIS-Khorasan. These detainees experienced imprisonment and torture first at the provincial intelligence facilities and then, at the headquarters in Kabul for period ranging between two months to 21 months.

Two of these individuals had been detained in Kabul, two in Kunar, and one in Nangarhar.

Connections to National Resistance Front and Afghanistan Freedom Front

Six individuals had been arrested on allegations of being affiliated with armed anti-Taliban groups, specifically the "National Resistance Front" and the "Afghanistan Freedom Front”.

These detainees endured imprisonment and torture when in Taliban intelligence agency’s custody for periods ranging between two months to 25 months. Among them were two women, a 17-year-old boy, and three men. Two detainees had been accused of ties with the National Resistance Front, while the other four were alleged to have connections with the members of the Afghanistan Freedom Front.

Of these six individuals, two had been detained in Kabul, one in Parwan, and three in Panjshir by Taliban intelligence.

Prior Involvement in The Republic’s Security Forces

According to reports from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other international organisations, the Taliban has detained and tortured hundreds of former security forces from the previous republic since regaining power.

Afghanistan International - Pashto spoke with four former military personnel who had been arrested and tortured by the Taliban’s intelligence agency. These individuals endured imprisonment and torture for eight to 19 months.

The detainees had been accused of killing Taliban members during their service in the former republic's security forces. However, no concrete evidence was found against them after their imprisonment. Among these four individuals, two had been arrested in Kunduz, one in Ghazni, and one in Laghman. Three of them had been subsequently transferred to Kabul for further interrogation.

Timing and Locations of Torture

Based on interviews conducted by Afghanistan International - Pashto, the detainees reported being tortured at various times, but common periods for torture were:

• From 9 PM to 1 AM
• From 3 AM until the morning prayer

Twenty-five detainees stated that they had been tortured or punished without any questioning or interrogation, while 11 had been beaten up and tortured only during interrogations.

Thirteen detainees reported of being subjected to continuous torture lasting up to 18 hours, while others experienced intermittent torture.

The detainees revealed that during these sessions, groups of three to nine Taliban members carried out the acts of torture simultaneously.

Physical Assault With Sticks and Wooden Rods

According to interviews with former detainees, prisoners held by the Taliban's intelligence agencies are physically assaulted with sticks or wooden rods, leaving their bodies severely injured. These beatings target areas such as the hands, feet, back, and hips.

• Initially, fresh green branches are soaked in water, and dozens of such sticks are prepared and brought into interrogation rooms. Prisoners are, then, beaten up during questioning sessions.

Case Example:

A resident of Jalalabad in Nangarhar province, referred to as Ataullah (a pseudonym), recounted his ordeal. On April 26, 2024, he had been detained while he was on his way home from work.

• He described how Taliban intelligence operatives placed a black bag over his head and took him to an intelligence facility. On his first night in detention, he was beaten up severely with sticks and rods. The Taliban had accused him of collaborating with foreign media outlets.

Ataullah was released after spending 100 days in detention but required medical treatment in Peshawar for his injuries. A colleague of Ataullah told Afghanistan International – Pashto that the Taliban held him until his physical wounds healed to a point where the signs of torture were no longer visible. However, head injuries were still noticeable even after his release.

This type of torture, involving sustained beatings, demonstrates the physical brutality inflicted by the Taliban's intelligence agencies on detainees.

Submersion In Cold Water

This method of torture involves submerging detainees in cold water or immersing specific parts of their body, causing extreme cold and pain.

According to accounts from detainees:

• A prisoner is either forced to stand in a container filled with icy water or repeatedly has their head submerged. The duration depends on the detainee’s ability to hold their breath.
• Three detainees reported losing consciousness during this torture. Upon regaining consciousness, they were subjected to further abuse.

Case Example:

A resident of Khair Khana, Kabul, identified as Khushal (a pseudonym), shared his experience:

• On November 28, 2023, he had been arrested during a nighttime raid by Taliban intelligence forces at his home.
• Khushal stated that the Taliban fighters beat him with weapons during the arrest, after which he was rendered unconscious and unaware of his destination.
• After three days of uncertainty, he realised he was in a Taliban intelligence detention facility but did not know its exact location.
• On the fourth night, interrogations began. He was accused of collaborating with ISIS–Khorasan.

Details of Torture:

• On the first night of interrogation, Khushal was forced to stand in a container of icy water and pressured to confess.
• He recounted how the interrogators submerged his head in water multiple times, attempting to suffocate him.

A relative of Khushal, who works as a teacher at a private school in Kabul, told Afghanistan International – Pashto that they searched for him for 21 days before discovering he was held at the Intelligence Department 498, commonly known as 098.

After 73 days in detention, Khushal was released.

• Following his release, he attempted to leave Afghanistan but was unable to do so due to financial difficulties.

This account illustrates the severe psychological and physical torment inflicted by the Taliban's intelligence apparatus.

Electric Shocks

Prisoners are subjected to electric shocks on their bodies or specific body parts, causing severe pain and sometimes leading to partial paralysis.

According to detainees:

• Electric shocks are commonly applied to areas like the back, thighs, and toes, causing excruciating pain and mental disorientation.
• One female detainee reported losing consciousness during electric shock torture, which also triggered untimely menstruation.

Case Study: "Farishta" (Pseudonym)

A resident of Parwan province, Farishta, narrated her ordeal:

• On November 23, 2023, during a nighttime operation in the Sar-I-Haws area, Taliban intelligence agency raided her neighbourhood following an attack on the house of a former colonel (now occupied by a Taliban commander).
• The Taliban searched all houses, including hers. Farishta, a former prosecutor, and her 13-year-old son were detained and taken to an intelligence facility.

Details of Torture:

• After six days of psychological and mental torture, she was transferred to Kabul.
• On her first night in Kabul, she was beaten with sticks and weapons, and on the second night, subjected to electric shocks.
• She was accused of collaborating with the Afghanistan Freedom Front and providing shelter to its members.

Electric Shock Room:

• Farishta was taken to a special room designated for electric shocks. She was first threatened with further torture if she did not provide information about Afghanistan Freedom Front members.
• When she refused, electrical wires were attached to her toes, and she received several intense shocks.
• She lost consciousness and later discovered her menstrual cycle had been disrupted.

Farishta had no news about her son during her imprisonment. After 41 days, she was released and learned that her son had been freed seven days earlier and was at home.

Her son told Afghanistan International – Pashto that during his detention, he was informed his mother was accused of spying for the Afghanistan Freedom Front and could face execution.

Currently, Farishta lives at her father’s home in Kabul, working with her sister in a family pickle-making business.

Beating on the Feet

This torture involves beating prisoners on the soles of their feet with sticks or rods, causing severe pain, bleeding, and damage to foot tissues.

Common Practice:

• This form of punishment, referred to as “Paya Kari” by the Taliban, has been reported by 36 detainees.

Case Study: "Hakeem Khan" (Pseudonym)

Hakeem Khan, a resident of Gardez, Paktia, described his experience:

• On March 31, 2023, he was first summoned to the Directorate of Information and Culture and then, detained by Taliban intelligence.
• Upon arrest, his hands and feet were tied, and he was beaten on the soles with rods at the Paktia Intelligence Department.

Accusation:

• He was accused of collaborating with foreign media, despite no specific questions being asked during his interrogation.
• The beating was so severe that walking became difficult for him.

After 34 days of detention and torture, he was released with the intervention of mediators and on the condition that he would resign from his former job.

Family Response:

• Hakeem’s brother, currently residing in the UAE, told Afghanistan International – Pashto that he paid a bribe of $7,000 for Hakeem’s release.

Hakeem now works at a private company in Kabul.

Pressure On Private Parts

In this method of torture, prisoners’ private parts are physically pressed, causing not only severe physical pain, but also psychological trauma.

Accounts From Detainees:

• Two out of 38 detainees reported that their private parts were pressed by Taliban interrogators during questioning.
• Pressure was increased if their answers did not satisfy the interrogators.

Case Study: "Ehsan" (Pseudonym)

A former employee of Afghanistan's National Radio and Television, who now resides in the United States, shared his experience:

• After the fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ehsan returned to his job and worked under the Taliban administration for eight months.
• One day, he received a message on WhatsApp from Ahmadullah Wasiq, the head of National Radio and Television, instructing him to leave the office immediately.
• As Ehsan left the office, he was arrested by Taliban intelligence operatives at the gate, his head was covered with a bag, and then, he was taken to their Directorate 90 of the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI).

Torture and Accusations:

• Ehsan was accused of spreading negative propaganda against Taliban leaders and having connections with foreign entities.
• During interrogation, his private parts were forcefully squeezed, causing him to lose consciousness due to the pain.

Release and Exile:

• After being released through intervention by Wasiq, Ehsan fled to Pakistan and later emigrated to the US through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) programme.
• A staff member at National Radio and Television confirmed that Ehsan was released after 26 days in detention but had been officially dismissed from his job during his imprisonment.

Attaching Weights to Private Parts

This form of torture involves attaching weights to prisoners’ private parts, resulting in severe pain, physical weakness, humiliation, and mental distress.

Accounts From Detainees:

• Three detainees reported being stripped naked during interrogations, with weights attached to their private parts while being forced to stand.
• They admitted to false accusations under this torture but later retracted their confessions in court, stating that they were coerced through torture.

Case Study: "Hamidullah" (Pseudonym)

A resident of Argo district in Badakhshan province, Hamidullah shared his ordeal:

• Following protests against the Taliban in his district, he was arrested on May 16, 2024.
• He was taken to the Taliban's provincial directorate of intelligence in Badakhshan, where he was beaten before being moved to a special interrogation room for one night.

Details of Torture:

• Hamidullah was accused of inciting rebellion against the Taliban regime and organising protests.
• At midnight, weights were tied to his private parts, and he was beaten and forced to stand despite the severe pain.
• Unable to endure the torture, he confessed to the accusations.

Trial and Outcome:

• A month later, Hamidullah informed the Taliban's judge that his confession was extracted under duress and through torture.
• After two court sessions, he was declared innocent and released.

Current Situation:

• Hamidullah now works as a tractor driver in his district. He has visited a urologist three times since his release.
• His 64-year-old father, who was also beaten up during the protests, stated that Hamidullah has not shared details of his torture with his family.
• He believes Hamidullah feels ashamed to discuss what happened.

Exposure to Loud Noise

In this method of torture, detainees are subjected to high-pitched or harsh, unidentified sounds played at extremely loud volumes. This causes mental distress, disrupts sleep, and leads to severe psychological strain.

Accounts From Detainees:

• Out of 38 interviewed detainees, seven confirmed being exposed to harsh, unidentified sounds in small rooms.
• This noise was used to mentally torture them and deprive them of sleep.

Case Study: "Ismail" (Pseudonym)

A resident of Asadabad, Kunar province, shared his experience:

• On October 15, 2023, Ismail was arrested while entering the main mosque in Asadabad for Friday prayers.
• Two days after his arrest, he was transferred to Kabul, where he was beaten with sticks and rods.
• Three days later, a large loudspeaker was placed in a small window of his cell, playing an unidentified, harsh noise at maximum volume.
• After enduring this for nearly 24 hours, he was taken to another interrogation room but was tortured to respond to any questions.

Current Situation:

• Ismail, who previously smuggled goods across the Durand Line between Kunar and Bajaur, now lives with his brother in Jalalabad.
• The Taliban has prohibited him from traveling to Bajaur.
• Ismail’s brother, a university professor in Nangarhar, stated that Ismail remains mentally distressed, often waking up screaming during the night.

Sleep Deprivation

This torture method involves keeping detainees awake for extended periods, leading to both mental and physical exhaustion.

Accounts From Detainees:

• Seventeen detainees reported being deprived of sleep for prolonged periods.
• If they attempted to sleep, guards would hit them with a rifle or pour cold water on them.
• Sleep deprivation typically lasts between 24 to 72 hours.

Case Study: "Nabi Gul" (Pseudonym)

A resident of Kunduz province, Nabi Gul shared his ordeal:

• On May 8, 2024, he was arrested by Taliban intelligence operatives in Mazar-e-Sharif.
• After three days in Mazar, he was transferred to Kabul, where he was held in a cell with three other detainees.
• Over a 24-hour period, they were not allowed to sleep.
• A guard stationed outside the cell would strike them with a rifle butt or splash water on them if they closed their eyes.

Background and Outcome:

• Nabi Gul served as a commander in the Afghan National Army, operating in Baghlan, Parwan, and Kunduz provinces during the Republic era.
• He was accused of burning Taliban fighters alive during battles, but no evidence was found to substantiate the charges.
• After enduring various forms of torture, Nabi Gul was released after four months and 10 days, with tribal elders serving as guarantors for his release.
• He now lives in Iran, while his family remains in Kunduz.

Immersion in Hot Water

This method involves immersing parts of the detainee’s body parts or the entire body in hot water, causing burns and excruciating pain.

Accounts From Survivors:

• One detainee confirmed being subjected to this torture twice, where hot water was poured on his back and scalding tea was splashed on his face.

Case Study: "Kamal Khan" (Pseudonym)

A resident of Muqur district in Ghazni province and a former member of the Afghan National Police, Kamal Khan recounted his experience:

• On January 31, 2024, while shopping at the market, Kamal received a call from home about unexpected guests. Upon returning, he was arrested by Taliban intelligence operatives.
• Initially detained in the district, he was later transferred to Ghazni city.
• During questioning, a Taliban officer accused Kamal of killing his close associates during the previous Afghan government’s reign.

Details of Torture:

• Kamal was threatened with boiling water unless he confessed.
• During interrogation, hot tea was poured on his face, and boiling water was poured on his back from a thermos, leaving burns.
• After enduring 43 days of detention and extensive torture, tribal elders intervened to secure his release.

Current Situation:

• Kamal now resides in Iran.
• Since his departure, the Taliban members have visited his home in Ghazni three times, taking his son hostage at one point, and accusing the family of possessing weapons.
• Kamal’s eldest son, now responsible for the family, drives a vehicle in Ghazni to support them.

Suffocation With a Bag

In this form of torture, detainees are deprived of air for a short period, often by placing a plastic bag over their heads, which induces feelings of suffocation and fear.

Accounts From Detainees:

• Four detainees confirmed that during their time at the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence, plastic bags were placed over their heads to restrict their breathing.
• One detainee became unconscious during this torture, while another admitted to crimes under duress, eventually leading to their release by court order.

Case Study: "Noora Jan" (Pseudonym)

A resident of the Bazarak area of Panjshir, Noora Jan was arrested on August 16, 2023, after receiving a phone call from the Taliban.

• He was detained by the Taliban intelligence operatives before reaching the Panjshir police headquarters.
• During his arrest, he was beaten by armed Taliban members and forcibly thrown into a vehicle.
• Despite having no political or militant affiliations, Noora Jan, a medical equipment engineer, was accused of providing technical support to the anti-Taliban resistance forces.
• He was summoned by the director of the provincial directorate of Taliban intelligence in Panjshir, who questioned him about his ties to the resistance forces.
• During this interrogation, Noora Jan had a plastic bag placed over his head, and he was subject to suffocation and beatings.
• After spending nine months in prison, he was released and eventually moved to Kabul.
• Now living in Kabul, Noora Jan works for a private medical supplies company, but he continues to be harassed by the Taliban occasionally.

Further Harassment:

• The head of a medical supplies company in Kabul, "Etibar Khan" (pseudonym), reported that the Taliban visited his company twice, inquiring about Noora Jan.
• He expressed concern that his business and safety were at risk due to Noora Jan’s past.

Nail Extraction

In this form of torture, the nails of the detainee’s hands or feet are forcibly removed, causing excruciating pain and bleeding.

Accounts From Detainees:

• Two detainees confirmed having had their nails broken or removed during torture, describing it as one of the most painful and threatening forms of abuse.

Case Study: "Sayed Jamal" (Pseudonym)

A resident of the "Arzan Qeemat" area in Kabul, Sayed Jamal runs a shop selling shoes and sandals in the market.

• On May 25, 2024, he was arrested after a bomb exploded near his shop.
• The responsibility for the explosion was claimed by the Afghanistan Freedom Front.
• He was accused of being involved in the attack.
• Sayed Jamal, who had previously served as a public order police officer (Nazm-E-Ama) under the Republic government in 2020, was tortured by the Taliban.
• After biometric data from his previous service was retrieved, Sayed Jamal underwent further torture, including the removal of his right toenail (small).
• He was held for two months, and when he presented his injured toe in court, the judge dismissed his claim, stating, "You killed our Mujahids, now we are doing the right thing by just removing your nails."
• After his release, Sayed Jamal fled Afghanistan and moved to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region of Pakistan.

Pressure On the Tongue and Ears

This method involves putting pressure on the detainee’s tongue or ears, causing intense pain and physical damage.

Account From a Journalist:

A local journalist was arrested by the Taliban’s intelligence agency on November 10, 2023, in Kandahar.

• He reported that, in addition to other forms of torture, his ears and tongue were squeezed and pressed, causing severe pain.
• The Taliban repeatedly threatened to cut out his tongue to prevent him from speaking.
• After over a month of torture and detention, the journalist was released on the condition that he would stop practicing journalism.
• He has since given up his profession due to the ongoing threat of Taliban harassment.

Hands Tied and Hung

In this form of torture, detainees are hung by their hands, leading to extreme pain in the shoulders and arms, along with weakness.

General Use of This Torture:

• This method, referred to as "Chicken" by the Taliban, is commonly used in their prisons.
• 21 detainees have reported being hung by their hands, enduring further beatings with sticks across their backs, chests, thighs, stomachs, and other body parts.

Hanging Upside Down

In this form of torture, detainees are hung upside down, which increases blood flow to the head and causes severe pain in the head, hands, and body.

General Use in Taliban Prisons:

• This form of torture is common in the GDI, often combined with other methods.
• 17 detainees have reported being hung by their feet in Taliban prisons and then beaten with sticks and wooden rods.
• Two detainees said that after being hung upside down, water was poured into their mouths and they were forced to drink. If they refused, they were beaten up with sticks.
• Drinking large amounts of water during this torture often leads to water coming out through the nose, causing intense pain.

Case Study: "Habibullah" (Pseudonym)

• A resident of Pul-e-Khomri city in Baghlan, Habibullah had served in the former Republic government's intelligence agencuy. He had been arrested by the Taliban’s intelligence agency in Khair Khana area in Kabul.
• He had been accused of rebellion against the Taliban regime and was hung by his feet during torture at the GDI. As a result of severe beatings, his leg was fractured.
• After his leg was fractured, he was transferred to the GDI’s hospital, where a metal rod was inserted into his leg.
• Habibullah’s father, a shopkeeper, reported that his son was released after nearly a year in prison, but his leg remains injured, and he is unable to live normally.
• Despite submitting petitions to the Taliban’s prime minister office, no positive response was received.

Confinement In a Small Cage

This form of torture involves placing detainees in a small, cramped cage, severely limiting their movement and causing fear, body pain, physical injuries, and psychological stress.

Reports From Detainees:

• One detainee confirmed being confined in a small cage for 32 hours during interrogation, unable to lie down or stand.
• A resident of Laghman province, who was arrested by the Taliban’s intelligence agency in June 2023, was immediately placed in a small cage with dogs.
• This detainee, who had previously served as the district governor for Kabul and several others in Laghman province under the Republic government, was accused of collaborating with the Taliban's enemies. After 17 months in prison, he was released.

Long-Term Confinement in Darkness

In this method, detainees are kept in dark rooms for prolonged periods, leading to isolation and psychological stress.

Common Practice in Taliban Prisons:

• 29 detainees have reported being confined in dark rooms in Taliban prisons, unable to see anything even a meter away.
• Five detainees stated that while in dark rooms, they were subjected to loud, unknown noises to further torture them mentally.

Case Study: "Etemad Khan" (Pseudonym)

·        Etemad Khan, a writer and poet known by his pseudonym, recalls being arrested by Taliban intelligence agents in Kabul in May 2022. He stated that he was accused of receiving funds from foreign entities and using social media to incite rebellion against the Taliban.

·        A Terrifying Arrest
Etemad Khan describes the arrest as violent and terrifying. The Taliban covered his face with a black bag and tied his hands and feet. He recounts that, for several days, he had no idea where he was. Later, he identified his location near Macrorayan after hearing the call to prayer.

·        Detention in Darkness
For the first seven days of his detention, Etemad Khan was confined in a dark cell. He was only allowed to use the restroom once a day. He says, "Those seven days in complete darkness were the hardest part of my ordeal."

·        After a week of uncertainty, interrogations began. Etemad Khan endured both physical and psychological torture during his imprisonment.

·        Although Etemad Khan is now in Pakistan, he continues to suffer from a fear of darkness. "I developed a phobia of darkness. Whenever it gets dark, I feel shortness of breath," he shares.

·        After seven months in Taliban custody, Etemad Khan was released. He fled to Pakistan for safety, but his family remains in Afghanistan, adding to his ongoing challenges.

Water Deprivation

This form of torture involves denying detainees access to water, causing intense thirst and health issues.

Reports From Detainees:

• Fourteen detainees confirmed being denied drinking water for periods ranging from three to 12 hours. During this time, they were forced to scream in their cells to receive any water.

Assault of Female Detainees' Private Parts

In this rare form of torture, the private parts of female detainees are assaulted, causing severe pain and distress.

Case Study: "Zahra" (Pseudonym)

• Zahra, a resident of Dasht-e-Barchi in Kabul, was arrested by the Taliban on September 9, 2024, while buying medicine for her sick mother.

She and the pharmacy owner had been accused of having an illicit relationship and of inciting rebellion against the Taliban.

Zahra was interrogated and repeatedly called a "prostitute" by the Taliban, with threats of sexual violence if she did not confess.

During her detention, a female Taliban officer tortured her by assaulting her private parts in front of male Taliban officials, causing intense pain.

Zahra said, “This torture and abuse was something I had never experienced in my life. They assaulted my private parts so severely that for days, my chest was sore, and the colour turned dark.”

Zahra's father eventually paid $6,000 to secure her release. The Taliban accused Zahra of trying to incite rebellion and of receiving money from foreign sources.

• Zahra was released after 37 days in prison and is currently at home, recovering.

Pulling of Hair

In this form of torture, hair lengths of female detainees are forcefully tied and pulled, causing severe headaches and hair breakage.

Reports From Detainees:

• One detainee revealed that she was first tied to a chair and then, had weight attached to her hair, causing intense pain.
• Another female detainee stated that while held in a Taliban intelligence prison, Taliban agents grabbed her hair and dragged her to the ground. Additionally, her hair was tied up multiple times, forcing her to stand in one place for nearly five hours.

Inserting Water Pipe Into The Mouth

In this method, a water pipe is inserted into the detainees’ mouth, causing severe discomfort and the sensation of suffocation or bloating.

Reports From Detainees:

• Eight detainees confirmed that a water pipe was forcibly inserted into their mouths, and they were forced to drink water under duress.
• Three detainees reported being hung upside down first and then, having the water pipe inserted into their mouths, where they were forced to drink water.

This form of torture has been documented only in the General Directorate of the Taliban in Kabul.

Standing For Long Periods of Time

In this method, detainees are forced to stand for long periods, leading to severe fatigue and pain in the feet.

Reports From Detainees:

• 27 detainees reported being forced to stand for periods ranging from six to 13 hours, without permission to sit or rest.
• This form of torture is a widespread practice inside Taliban’s intelligence prisons.

Inserting Metal Objects In Private Parts

This rare and extreme form of torture involves forcibly inserting metal objects or the barrel of a gun in the detainee’s private parts, causing severe pain, bleeding, and long-term injury.

Case Study: "Kabir" (Pseudonym)

• Kabir, a resident of Mazar-e-Sharif, was severely tortured during an interrogation by the Taliban’s intelligence services.

He was arrested during a raid on his house by the Taliban’s intelligence agents. Initially, he was questioned about his alleged ties to Afghanistan Freedom Front and other anti-Taliban resistance groups.

Kabir was forced to endure repeated torture, during which a gun barrel was forcibly inserted in his private parts.

Kabir had been running a construction company in Mazar-e-Sharif, working on several government projects, and was accused by the Taliban of cooperating with rival armed groups.

After extensive torture, the Taliban was unable to confirm any such links to opposition groups. After his release, Kabir submitted a case to the Taliban’s AOP but still, there has been no positive response. He is still undergoing treatment.

Giving Minimal Food

In this form of torture, detainees are given very little food, leading to extreme weakness and hunger.

Reports From Detainees:

• All detainees reported that they were not given proper meals while in Taliban custody. Whenever they requested food, they were met with hostile responses.
• One female detainee reported not being given food for 20 hours. When she asked for food, the guards insulted her and told her, “This is not your father’s house.”

Branding With Hot Iron

In this form of torture, detainees are branded with a hot iron, which burns their skin and leaves permanent scars.

• Among 36 detainees, only one was subjected to branding with a hot iron. This detainee had the spaces between his toes branded with a heated metal rod.

·        Case Study: "Nazir Gul" (Pseudonym)

Nazir Gul (a pseudonym), a resident of Nangarhar province and a mobile shop owner in Jalalabad, shared his ordeal. He recalls the day when Taliban’s intelligence operatives arrived at his shop on March 17, 2023, and accused him of ties with the ISIS-Khorasan group.

·        Severe Torture During Interrogation
Nazir Gul was taken to the Taliban's intelligence directorate in Nangarhar, where he was interrogated. During the questioning, his toes were branded with a red-hot iron rod.

·        Release Under Guaranty
After enduring 17 days of imprisonment and torture, he was eventually released under the surety of the deputy governor of Nangarhar. Despite his traumatic experience, Nazir Gul continues to run his mobile shop in Jalalabad.

Sitting In The Sun During The Summer

In this form of torture, detainees are forced to sit in the sun during summer, leading to extreme heat, dehydration, and skin burns.

Reports From Detainees:

• Three detainees confirmed being forced to sit under the sun in Nangarhar and Kandahar during the summer season. They were not given water until they were coerced into making confessions.
• One detainee fainted due to the intense heat and later gained consciousness when water was provided to him by the Taliban.

Sitting In The Cold During Winter

In this method, detainees are left exposed to the cold in winter, which leads to severe colds, illness, and physical discomfort.

Case Study:

• One detainee from Panjshir reported being held in extreme cold without any means of covering himself.
• He was stripped of his shirt at 1 AM and left exposed to the cold at the Intelligence Directorate courtyard.
• This detainee, who had been arrested by the Taliban’s Intelligence Directorate in Panjshir in January 2022, spent 13 months in Taliban custody and was eventually released. He now lives in Tajikistan.

Degrading Torture

In this form of torture, detainees are forcibly stripped of their clothes and subjected to humiliation, which damages their dignity and honour.

The Taliban often conducted this form of torture to film videos of certain targeted individuals.

Reports From Detainees:

• One woman, four men, and a 17-year-old confirmed that they were stripped of their clothes by force inside Taliban’s intelligence agency prisons and made to sit naked for durations ranging from one to nine hours. Videos of two detainees had also been recorded on a mobile phone.

Threatening Family and Relatives

In this form of torture, detainees are threatened with the capture or harm of their family members, increasing psychological pressure.

This is a widespread practice in Taliban’s intelligence prisons, where detainees are threatened with the death or imprisonment of their entire families if they do not confess.

Reports From Detainees:

• All 38 interviewees confirmed that during interrogations, they were threatened that their families will meet mysterious deaths and were pressured into confessions under the threat of harm to their loved ones.

Blindfolding

In this method of torture, detainees are blindfolded, creating fear and a sense of helplessness.
This is also a usual form of torture, used on nearly every detainee or any individual targeted by the Taliban.

Reports From Detainees:

• 25 detainees confirmed being blindfolded for periods ranging from six to 20 hours while simultaneously being threatened with death.

Administering Nauseating Drugs

In this form of torture, detainees are given drugs that cause nausea and dizziness, making them feel sick and disoriented.

This form of torture is not very common inside Taliban’s intelligence agency prisons, with only one detainee confirming that drugs were forcibly administered to him in water, which caused severe nausea and nearly led him to lose consciousness.

Tying Hands and Feet Behind the Back

In this method of torture, detainees are tied in such a way that their hands and feet are bound behind their backs, and then, forced into an awkward position, leading to severe pain and physical injury.

This form of torture is relatively common and widely used inside Taliban’s intelligence agency prisons, where it is referred to as the "Helicopter Treatment".

Reports from Detainees:

• 11 detainees confirmed that when they were arrested, they were subjected to this type of torture and left in this position for hours at a time.