report in Khaama Press online, Aug 12, 2023
Office of Prisons Administration officials revealed on Sunday that there are presently 16 foreign nationals incarcerated in prisons across Afghanistan.
In the government’s accountability program, Habibullah Badr, the Military Deputy of the Office of Prisons Administration, revealed five women among the foreign prisoners in Afghanistan.
He further said there are 16,000 prisoners nationwide, with 1,194 women.
As per earlier reports, individuals from the United States and the United Kingdom are among the foreign nationals imprisoned in Afghanistan.
During a recent meeting in Doha, Thomas West and Rina Amiri, the US envoys for Afghanistan affairs, discussed with the Taliban’s Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, regarding releasing American prisoners from Taliban prisons.
During the meeting, the representatives from the United States firmly insisted on the “immediate and unconditional” release of American citizens held within Taliban prisons.
The exact number of American citizens currently held in Taliban prisons remains uncertain. Nonetheless, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken previously verified the presence of approximately 175 US citizens remaining in Afghanistan. some of these individuals entered the country after the government’s collapse in August 2021.
Meanwhile, Badr emphasized that the country currently holds 1,089 child prisoners, with this distressing number also encompassing 47 girls. This situation highlights a critical issue that requires immediate attention.
He said 250 military personnel from the Taliban forces had been incarcerated due to infractions ranging from breaches of government policies to involvement in traffic accidents. This significant number underscores the enforcement of discipline within the military ranks, ensuring adherence to regulations and maintaining order.
On the other hand, Mohammad Yusuf Mestri, the Director General of the Office of Prisons Administration, has announced that Iran has extradited 1,230 Afghan citizens who were apprehended in drug-related cases back to Afghanistan.
He further mentioned that there are currently approximately 4,000 Afghans incarcerated in Iranian prisons due to various accusations. Through the efforts of the Taliban administration, the death sentences of 250 Afghan citizens have been commuted to imprisonment.
https://www.khaama.com/taliban-confirms-imprisonment-of-16-foreign-nationals-in-afghanistan/
