RASC News Agency: Reports emerging from the central prison of Herat province in western Afghanistan suggest that certain prisoners, owing to negligence and a lack of attention to their criminal cases, have succumbed to mental and psychological illnesses. Sources from the central prison in Herat, conditionally preserving their identity while conversing with a RASC News correspondent on Monday, December 18th, assert that a majority of inmates in the blocks of this prison confront a myriad of material and moral challenges, spiraling into profound despair and complete hopelessness.
These sources contend that there exists no provision of health services or treatment within the Herat prison that inmates can access to any reasonable extent. According to the sources, prisoners, owing to the disorderly conditions inside this prison, have fallen prey to mental and psychological illnesses, and thus far, no official from the Taliban has shown attention or addressed the challenges faced by the inmates. Meanwhile, Akbar, a resident of Herat province, conveys to RASC: “Individuals detained by the Taliban will no longer have their life and death status ascertainable, either directly or indirectly.”
He adds: “A significant number of inmates in Herat province spend their lives within prison walls in grief and utter despair, nurturing no hope for liberation from the clutches of the Taliban.” He asserts that the leadership of the Taliban must collaborate to alleviate the challenges faced by prisoners grappling with various difficulties. Furthermore, Moshfeq Azimi, a civil activist in Herat province, communicates to RASC that neglecting the criminal cases of prisoners is one of the factors leading prisoners to various illnesses.
He adds: “Over two years of Taliban rule have transpired in the country, and all strata, particularly the prisoners in Herat, Afghanistan, have encountered conditions they may not have previously experienced in their lifetimes.” Azimi continues: “A majority of prisoners comprehend the Taliban’s prison system and believe they have no prospects for freedom. They earnestly await the day a new government is declared, and the gates of all prisons in Afghanistan are breached, liberating prisoners from the bonds of this group.” It is noteworthy that authorities of the ruling faction in Herat province have not issued any comments on this matter.
It is reported that, within the republican system, a considerable number of prisoners in Herat province faced mental and psychological challenges, heart pressure, etc., due to the negligence of local and central governments towards prisoners’ challenges, leading to the loss of lives in some instances. According to discussions from certain sources within the central prison of Herat province, the current conditions in the Taliban-controlled prisons have become incredibly harsh and challenging compared to the former administration under Ashraf Ghani, leaving them with no hope for their freedom.
