RASC News Agency: Local sources in Faryab report that the Taliban have arrested six individuals in the province on charges of engaging in “Gambling” a term commonly associated with illicit gatherings and gambling. Taliban security officials in Faryab have confirmed the arrests, stating that the individuals were apprehended in Khan Char district while allegedly participating in gambling activities. The Taliban claim to have seized “a sum of cash, several mobile devices, and gambling equipment” from the detainees, who have since been handed over to the relevant provincial authorities.
Meanwhile, residents of Faryab have voiced increasing concerns over the Taliban’s growing authoritarianism and intrusive surveillance tactics. Multiple reports indicate that Taliban fighters patrol the streets of Maimana city at night, frequently trespassing into homes and guesthouses under the pretext of enforcing their interpretation of morality. Witnesses say that if they notice a light on, they enter without the homeowner’s consent, subjecting residents to unwarranted scrutiny.
Locals further report that even private gatherings and social events are not exempt from Taliban interference. “They storm into our homes, demanding to know why we have gathered and questioning us about our activities,” said one resident of Maimana. Young men attending late-night gatherings are reportedly subjected to invasive searches, forcibly stripped of their money, and arbitrarily accused of gambling. The Taliban allegedly photograph them as “evidence” before detaining them an act that has provoked widespread outrage among the people of Faryab.
Since reclaiming power, the Taliban have arbitrarily detained countless individuals across various provinces on ambiguous and often fabricated charges. Citizens increasingly report that their fundamental freedoms are being systematically eroded, with the Taliban imposing ever-tightening restrictions, engaging in warrantless searches, and violating the privacy and dignity of Afghanistani civilians with impunity.
