Sources in Baghlan Province told Afghanistan International on Monday that Qadriya, a 28-year-old woman recently released from Taliban custody, was severely beaten by her family upon returning home.
According to these sources, Qadriya sustained serious facial injuries during the assault.
The Taliban released Qadriya from Kiligai Prison on Saturday, 5 April, handing her over directly to her father. Prior to her release, Qadriya had explicitly warned authorities that returning to her family posed a grave risk to her life, stating that she feared she would be killed.
On Monday, local Taliban officials, accompanied by members of the provincial Ulema Council, visited Qadriya's father's home to assess her condition. Her father initially resisted allowing them entry, prompting officials to forcibly enter the home.
Inside, officials reportedly found Qadriya in a severely distressed condition. A source stated that when questioned about her facial injuries, Qadriya accused her father, husband, and brother of assaulting her. However, her father denied the allegations, claiming instead that his daughter was mentally ill and had inflicted the injuries upon herself.
In response, the Taliban's municipal court ordered that Qadriya remain under protective care until her father formally guarantees her safety.
Prior to her release, Qadriya had appeared in a video obtained by Afghanistan International from inside Kiligai Prison. In the video, she pleaded for help, clearly expressing fears that her life would be endangered if she was returned to her family, particularly by her father.
