a critical professor of the Taliban arrested

Faizullah Jalal was taken into custody because of social media posts in which he ” was trying to turn people against the system and play with people’s dignity Says Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban. In these posts, the professor accuses the Taliban of collusion with the Pakistani secret services (ISI) or considers that the Islamic regime considers the Afghans as ” donkeys “.

“ He was arrested to prevent others from making similar insane comments The Taliban spokesperson continued on Twitter, posting screenshots of the offending posts.

A Taliban official called ” veal “

A respected figure, also critical of the previous government supported by the United States, Faizullah Jalal was noticed during a televised debate with a Taliban official whom he called ” veal », A very serious insult in Afghanistan. Snippets of this televised debate had gone viral in Afghanistan, with some commentators worrying that the scholar was in danger.

His daughter Hasina and his wife Massouda Jalal, who was the first woman candidate in a presidential election in Afghanistan, confirmed her arrest on social media. ” Dr Jalal has fought all his life and stood up for justice and the national interest in all his activities », Said on Facebook Massouda Jalal.

Severe repression of dissent

The NGOs Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) demanded his release, Amnesty believing that the academic was arrested “ for exercising his freedom of expression and criticizing the Taliban “.

Since their return to power, the Taliban, who claim to be more moderate than during their first reign (1996-2001), have nevertheless severely suppressed dissent, dispersing protests in favor of women’s rights and detaining journalists. They further restricted the right of women to work. and study, attracting a number of convictions abroad.

(with AFP)