RASC News Agency: Hamza Olfat, a prominent civil activist, passed away just days after being released from Taliban custody. Arrested for his activism, Olfat endured severe torture at the hands of the group. Close friends allege that during his imprisonment, the Taliban subjected Olfat to horrific abuse, including the forcible extraction of his teeth using pliers and a hammer. Fereshtah Abbasi, a researcher on Afghanistan for Human Rights Watch, confirmed Olfat’s arrest and subsequent torture due to his civic activities. On Sunday, January 19, Abbasi remarked, “I am heartbroken by the loss of Hamza. He was an extraordinary individual who stood unwaveringly alongside protesting women in Dasht-e-Barchi.”
Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, described Olfat’s death as “deeply troubling” and called for an independent investigation into the circumstances of his demise. Outrage has spread across social media, with users demanding accountability from the Taliban. Zalfaqar Omid, a close associate of Olfat, shared an emotional tribute: “The news of Hamza’s passing left me trembling, my limbs weakened, and tears streaming uncontrollably.” Omid revealed that during a phone conversation following Olfat’s release, the activist expressed his dismay at his friends in the Enlightenment Movement for not advocating for his freedom.
“With a voice filled with anguish and anger, Hamza recounted the unbearable torment he endured in prison,” Omid stated. “He revealed that his teeth had been extracted with pliers and a hammer before his very eyes. Repeated blows with metal rods rendered his digestive system inoperative.” Omid continued, “The brutality of the torture was so overwhelming that Hamza considered ending his life several times, much like other detainees who succumbed to the unbearable physical and psychological pressures. Yet, his unshakable belief in justice and his commitment to the cause gave him the strength to endure.”
According to Omid, a sum of money was paid to the Taliban to secure Olfat’s release. The Taliban has faced repeated accusations of torturing detainees, with numerous reports of prisoners either committing suicide or dying from their injuries shortly after being freed.
