Mohammad Mohaqiq, leader of the Islamic Unity Party of the People of Afghanistan, has accused the Taliban of sexually assaulting a Bamiyan girl calling it "violating [her] honour" and held the group responsible for her death.
In a statement released on Monday, 29 July, Mohaqiq condemned the Taliban's actions, stating, "These atrocities will end, but they will have serious adverse effects on the relations between the ethnic groups of Afghanistan."
He added, "Perhaps violating the dignity, honour, and beliefs of the people may seem desirable to the Taliban rulers for a short while, but God is the true avenger."
Mohaqiq, currently residing in Turkey, described the death of the 19-year-old Bamiyan girl as "martyrdom," noting that "the poor girl was killed at her home on the night of July 27, 2024."
He further explained that there are "two narratives" surrounding her "tragic martyrdom": one suggesting that the girl hanged herself to escape her grim fate, and the other claiming that "the assailants, to silence her cries for justice forever, went to her home at night and killed her”.
According to Mohaqiq, two weeks prior to her death, members of a Taliban military unit in Punjab abducted the girl while she was on her way home from work in the Punjab bazaar area and transferred her to Bamiyan city. After "two or three days of violating the honour of this defenceless 19-year-old girl, the Taliban released her in Bamiyan city. When she appealed to the relevant Taliban authorities for justice, no one listened to her cries."
Taliban officials have not yet made any public statements regarding the arrest and death of the girl.
Earlier, sources in Bamiyan told Afghanistan International that following the death of the Bamiyan girl, the Taliban expelled a member of their military unit in Punjab district, Bamiyan province, and referred him to the military prosecutor. However, it remains unclear what charges have been brought against this Taliban member, and sources reported that he has not yet been detained.
