RASC News Agency: The Taliban authorities in Herat claim they are undertaking efforts to “reform” prisoners’ mindsets by introducing classes in vocational skills, literacy, and religious sciences. These programs reportedly include instruction on topics such as Islamic teachings, ideological warfare against the West, “Satanology,” and “Emirate Studies.” Mawlawi Mukhles, the head of Herat’s central prison, disclosed that the facility currently holds 2,400 inmates, including 420 women and children, detained on various criminal charges. He asserted that these educational initiatives aim to rehabilitate prisoners through training in crafts, literacy programs, and religious doctrines.
However, independent reports paint a starkly different picture of the conditions within Taliban-controlled prisons. The United Nations has previously documented widespread allegations of torture and sexual violence against female detainees in Taliban custody. These accounts detail brutal methods of coercion under the pretense of maintaining discipline, with numerous instances of physical and sexual abuse. Some former prisoners, such as Manizha Siddiqi, have come forward to expose the extent of the atrocities. Siddiqi revealed that she was subjected to repeated gang rape by Taliban guards during her detention.
In a controversial announcement, the Taliban in Herat confirmed their focus on teaching inmates ideological concepts, including “Satanology” and “Emirate Studies.” Critics argue that these so-called educational programs are nothing more than propaganda efforts designed to indoctrinate inmates with the Taliban’s rigid ideology. According to analysts, these initiatives serve dual purposes: suppressing dissent and solidifying ideological control over prisoners. Official figures from Herat prison indicate that approximately 300 inmates are currently enrolled in these programs, which combine vocational training with ideological instruction in “Satanology” and “Emirate Studies.” Activists and observers warn that such efforts may not only reinforce the Taliban’s oppressive rule but also deepen the systemic abuses perpetrated within their detention facilities.
