RASC News Agency: Reports from Badakhshan indicate that a guard at a Jamaatkhana (an Ismaili worship site) was found hanged in the courtyard of the premises under suspicious circumstances. According to local sources, the incident occurred on Sunday night, December 8, in the Zebak district of Badakhshan, where unidentified individuals reportedly carried out the hanging. A worshipper at the site recounted to RASC: “In the early morning, as we arrived at the Jamaatkhana for prayers, we discovered the guard hanging in the courtyard.”
The deceased, identified as Kharkash, had been serving as a guard at the site for several years. Another source revealed that Kharkash often stayed overnight at the Jamaatkhana. The perpetrators of this crime remain unidentified, and no group has claimed responsibility. This incident follows a pattern of violence targeting Ismaili worship sites in the region. Previously, another guard at a Jamaatkhana in Badakhshan was tortured at night by unknown assailants.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan has witnessed a sharp rise in mysterious killings. While most of these incidents are attributed to “unknown armed individuals,” many citizens accuse Taliban members of orchestrating such attacks. The Taliban, however, have consistently denied these allegations, claiming they are working to ensure security across the country.
International human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups, have raised alarm over the increasing reports of arbitrary detentions, torture, and mysterious killings under the Taliban regime. These organizations have also documented cases implicating Taliban members in extrajudicial killings, underscoring a climate of fear and impunity that persists in Afghanistan.
