KABUL: The Taliban have arrested Abdul Qadir Qanit, a prominent religious scholar and former head of the Council for the Protection of Religious and Jihadi Values.
Media reports say that Qanit had recently appeared in Afghan media as a religious affairs expert, openly criticizing the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s education. His arrest is seen as part of a broader crackdown on individuals who challenge the regime’s policies.
In a concerning development, the Taliban have issued a list of approved analysts for media outlets, instructing them to invite only those individuals for commentary. This initiative aims to suppress independent thought and limit public discourse. Qanit’s detention follows that of political analyst Javid Kohistani, who was taken from Kabul’s Khair Khana neighborhood to an undisclosed location.
The Taliban have not publicly commented on the arrests of Qanit or Kohistani, nor have they addressed the ongoing detentions of other scholars and analysts. Human rights organizations worldwide have condemned these actions, deeming them blatant violations of free speech and human dignity.
Amidst the rising number of arrests, the Taliban remain silent about their motivations, leaving many Afghans deeply concerned about the future of free expression under their regime. The escalating climate of fear has stifled open dialogue, prompting urgent calls for accountability and the protection of fundamental rights in Afghanistan.
