RASC News Agency: Local sources from Takhar Province report that Taliban forces have recently detained three mosque imams in the region. Sources informed the media that three clerics named Mawlawi Tawfiq, Mufti Baz Muhammad, and Mawlawi Bilal Ahmad were arrested by Taliban forces before the evening prayers on Sunday, March 17th, in Taluqan, the province’s center.
According to sources, Taliban forces detained these three individuals for failing to mention Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the group, in their sermons during prayers and transferred them to an undisclosed location. Meanwhile, relatives of Mawlawi Tawfiq told the media that he has been a university teacher and imam for 30 years, and Taliban forces detained him while he was returning home from the mosque.
According to this source, the Taliban detained a significant number of scholars in Takhar Province over the past three weeks for the same reason but released them after intervention by elders and assurances of non-recurrence. The Taliban have yet to comment on this matter, despite their history of detaining, imprisoning, and even killing their critics on various charges.
