RASC News Agency: Local sources from Paktika province report that officers from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have recently arrested nearly 30 young individuals following inspections of their mobile phones. These sources informed the media on Saturday, 27th of July, that the youths were detained on charges of possessing images of the Afghanistani national flag and photographs of former presidents on their devices.
According to the reports, the Taliban morality police have been conducting phone inspections across various regions of Paktika. If they discover content or images that contravene the group’s regulations, they arrest the individuals involved. It was further reported that last Friday, the Taliban arrested eight youths from the Navi area for possessing images of the Afghanistani national flag on their phones.
The sources added that these youths also had images of former Presidents Ashraf Ghani, Hamid Karzai, and Daoud Khan saved on their devices. Furthermore, reports from the Bakakhil district in Paktika indicate that, for several months, local Taliban officials have been inspecting the mobile phones of young people and subjecting them to harassment.
Many citizens argue that the Taliban’s inspection of mobile phones constitutes a severe violation of privacy, a right that has been frequently ignored during the group’s three-year rule. As of now, the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has not provided any explanation for these arrests. This latest action exemplifies the group’s ongoing history of violent and repressive measures.
