RASC News Agency: Sources reveal that several residents of Paktika province, arrested over the past week from both the central and district areas of the province, are being tortured in Taliban intelligence detention centers. On Wednesday, July 31, sources reported to the media that at least 40 individuals from the province have been detained by the Taliban for possessing photographs of the three-color national flag and sharing these images on social media.
According to these sources, Taliban forces identified and detained the individuals after examining their mobile phones and discovering the photos of the three-color flag on their social media accounts. Reports indicate that detainees in Taliban intelligence facilities in Paktika are being subjected to torture, and their families have been unable to visit them thus far. This information emerges as some citizens marked Flag Day on August 7 by posting photos of themselves with the national flag on social media.
The Taliban’s crackdown is not unprecedented; previously, citizens have faced detention and torture by Taliban forces for displaying or carrying the national flag. It is important to note that, during their three-year rule, the Taliban have imposed increasing restrictions on citizens’ daily lives, particularly targeting the youth.
Moreover, over the past three years, the Taliban have violated personal privacy, frequently inspecting the phones of citizens, especially young people, across various cities.
