RASC News Agency: Local sources in Farah province, western Afghanistan, report that the Taliban have been exploiting several adolescents in the province’s juvenile correctional facility. A resident of Farah, who wished to remain anonymous, told RASC News Agency on Sunday, April 28, “The Taliban offer special privileges to any adolescent they favor in the juvenile facility, coercing them into complying with their desires.”
According to the source, this exploitation has been ongoing for some time, affecting multiple adolescents in the Farah juvenile correctional facility, with no effective measures taken to address the issue. The source added that many adolescents have clashed with the Taliban over this matter, and their current whereabouts whether dead or alive remain unknown.
The source explained that the Taliban prioritize their own enjoyment, showing little concern for anything else. Another source in Farah, also speaking anonymously, stated that the Taliban even provide clothing and daily expenses for certain inmates in the juvenile facility. The source noted that many Taliban officials in Farah and other western Afghanistan provinces hail from Kandahar, which may explain the frequency of such reports.
The existence of this trend casts a shadow over inmates, particularly in juvenile facilities, where they face despair and injustice daily. Some human rights experts in western Afghanistan acknowledge that such issues have been occurring in prisons for a long time. Fayaz Saberi, a human rights expert, told RASC News Agency: “The Taliban will forcefully implement whatever they desire, regardless of whether it’s consensual.”
He stated that the Taliban show no mercy or compassion even towards each other, allowing such unethical practices to persist. Saberi noted that during previous governments, international organizations, particularly those focused on human rights, monitored prisons and other facilities. However, none of these organizations are currently active. Despite this, Musa Taban, a civil society activist in Farah province, told RASC News Agency that the Taliban currently hold power, and no authority can confront their members.
He noted that oppression and tyranny have reached their peak and continue to escalate daily. Taban emphasized that without intervention to address these challenges in Afghanistan prisons, particularly in Farah province, current concerns will only multiply. The Taliban in Farah province have not yet commented on the matter.
