Taliban Expels Member After Girl He Forcibly Detained Commits Suicide

Mohtaj's family and close associates have expressed their concern, stating that they have no information about his current status. According to sources, he was detained four days ago, but the Taliban have not provided any comments on the matter.

A close friend of Mohtaj, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Afghanistan International, "Mohtaj has been missing for four days. We have inquired with the Taliban's security and intelligence agencies, but they are not providing any information."

Mohtaj is known for hosting social and historical programmes on "Mellat Ghag" radio and has conducted several interviews with local Taliban officials.

Approximately two weeks ago, Taliban intelligence forces in Kandahar also detained independent journalist Mohammad Yar Majrooh for unknown reasons. There is no information available about his fate either.

Local sources have indicated that nearly all journalists and media workers in Kandahar, including those active on social media, are under severe pressure and threat from the Taliban. They report that no journalist can broadcast or publish anything without Taliban permission.

The suppression of media and the arrest of journalists have significantly increased during the three years of Taliban rule. The Afghanistan Journalists' Centre has recorded 89 instances of violations against journalists' rights, including 60 threats and 29 arrests.

Faeser emphasised the continuous effort to deport violent Islamist criminals.

In the interview with Bild am Sonntag, Faeser highlighted that Germany's interests are her top priority and that the federal police are prepared to support the responsible states in expediting these deportations. She stressed that anyone without the right to stay in Germany should leave the country promptly.

These statements come as the German Foreign Ministry concluded in a confidential assessment that combat operations continue at varying levels across different parts of Syria. Opponents of refugee deportations cite a United Nations report indicating that conditions for the safe return of refugees are not yet in place.

However, Mario Voigt, a member of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), argues that the possibility of deportation to Syria should be extended not only to criminals but also to those who have no prospects of staying.

The German Interior Minister previously stressed that the authorities are engaged in negotiations with various countries to deport "criminal" Afghans. Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany, stated last Wednesday that the country would soon decide on the deportation of Afghan migrants.

The murder of a German police officer by an Afghan refugee in June in the city of Mannheim has increased the pressure in Germany to deport refugees to Afghanistan.

The deceased, known as Raes, was reportedly arrested by Taliban members from his home two weeks ago. Relatives confirmed that the arrest was made forcibly at gunpoint, and during this period, the family had no information about his whereabouts or health condition.

Raes had served as a local police officer in the Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. His relatives reported observing signs of torture and beating on his body, suggesting that he died as a result of the mistreatment.

Taliban officials in Paktia province have not commented on the incident. Taj Mohammad Mangal, a former member of the Paktia provincial council, told Afghanistan International that Raes had resumed a normal life in his village following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 and had not engaged in any military activities.

Family members emphasised that Raes had no personal enmity with anyone, further questioning the circumstances of his arrest and subsequent death.

Initial media reports suggested that Tahira committed "suicide" after being released from prison. However, a reliable source from Bamiyan could not confirm the manner of her death. Forensic investigations have not been conducted, leaving it unclear whether she died during detention or afterwards.

Sources indicated that without a thorough investigation, it is impossible to determine the exact cause of death or identify any potential perpetrators. The security situation and the connection to her arrest by the Taliban complicate the verification of the suicide claim.

Tahira, a 19-year-old resident of Tagab Barg village in the Panjab district, was arrested by the Taliban on Saturday, 13 July, in the centre of Panjab district. The Taliban have yet to provide an explanation for her arrest.

A document containing Tahira's statements at the time of her arrest has been circulated in local media. According to this document, around 5:26 PM, she was heading home from a tailoring shop in the central market of Panjab when a Taliban member ordered her into a vehicle. Initially, she ignored the order, but after repeated commands and fearing for her safety, she complied.

Reports indicate that Tahira was severely harassed by Taliban members during her arbitrary detention. She was held in a Taliban prison for several days and was released after interventions by local elders and residents. It was after her release that she reportedly committed suicide.

The Taliban officials have not officially commented on the matter. Images of Tahira's body, shared on social media, have garnered widespread attention.

The Taliban have previously arbitrarily detained numerous girls, predominantly Shia Muslims, in various cities. Last December, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that the Taliban arbitrarily detain girls for not adhering to the group's interpretation of "Hijab." UNAMA warned that such actions, including physical violence against Afghan girls and women, are "humiliating and dangerous."

The organisation called on the public to protect water resources in Afghanistan.

On Saturday, 27 July, the European Union Delegation for Afghanistan wrote in a note on the X social media platform: "Let's protect our rivers, lakes, and groundwater for future generations. Together, we can build a water-secure Afghanistan."

The United Nations had previously expressed concern over the expanding water crisis in Afghanistan, stating that about 80% of the country's population does not have adequate access to drinking water.

According to a report published by the United Nations Development Programme in late 2023, Afghanistan ranked sixth among countries most vulnerable to climate change last year.

The United Nations stated that $479 million is needed to address the water and sanitation crisis in Afghanistan.

The International Committee of the Red Cross also previously reported that access to drinking water is becoming increasingly difficult for the people of Afghanistan, putting millions of lives at risk.