Panah Press | Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf, a former Afghan jihadi leader, has once again criticised the Taliban’s treatment of women, urging the group to refrain from arresting and mistreating them.
In a social media message, Sayyaf described Taliban prisons as “filthy and corrupt” and said that the arrest and mistreatment of women hurt the Islamic, humanitarian and national sentiments of the people.
In part of a message attributed to him, Sayyaf addressed the Taliban, writing: “It is shameful, disgraceful and wrong. Do not extend your hands towards women who are not your mahrams, and do not take them to your filthy and corrupt prisons. Do not hurt the Islamic, humanitarian and national sentiments of our people.”
Sayyaf did not refer to a specific incident in the message. However, his remarks come amid reports of women and girls being arrested on accusations of failing to comply with the Taliban’s dress regulations.
Most recently, reports emerged that at least five women and girls had been arrested by Taliban morality enforcers on Herat city’s Lailami Street. Independent details about the exact time of the arrests and the whereabouts of those detained are not available.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has reported that, from July to September 2026, Taliban morality enforcers arrested or detained at least 52 women and one girl in Kabul and Herat. According to the mission, those detained were released after several hours.
UNAMA added that the actual number of such cases may be higher, as security concerns and social stigma can prevent some incidents from being reported.
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