Mawlawi Aminul Haq, the chief judge in Panjshir, in a confidential audio tape that Afghanistan International received, has confirmed that a woman has been raped by Taliban members in Khawak area of Panjshir province.
The Taliban official said that the woman who has been raped is a Hazara and a resident of Khost district of Baghlan province.
Earlier this week, local sources in Panjshir province said that Taliban members had raped a woman and her four daughters in the village of "Hazara Kepa Deh Khawak" in Paryan district of Panjshir.
However, Mawlawi Aminul Haq said that he has visited the area and spoken to the family of the rape victim. The local Taliban official emphasised that the Taliban members sexually assaulted only one woman and her daughters had not been assaulted.
In the leaked audio tape, Aminul Haq, quoted the woman who had been sexually assaulted, and said that two Taliban members entered their house, assaulted the woman's husband, and forced him to leave the house, after beating her up, they raped her.
The Taliban judge added that they have arrested six members of the group on charges of rape.
The Taliban judge stressed that he is trying to enforce the "Hudod" order on the Taliban forces in Panjshir to enforce the Sharia law.
This Taliban official said that the residents of Panjshir "should not publicise the incidents that happen to their sisters and mothers in Panjshir”. He added that the publication of these facts doesn’t prevent the behaviour of Taliban fighters and will not cure any pain.
Previously, Taliban spokesmen had denied the incident in Panjshir province.
In the past year, there have been many reports of sexual assault by the Taliban. However, the Taliban has not put any of its forces to trial so far.
