Human Rights Activists Condemn Hostage Videos and Call for Protection in Yafteh, Badakhshan
The Human Rights Activists Alliance has expressed deep concern over recent clashes in Yafteh district of Badakhshan province, describing the release of videos involving kidnapped individuals as alarming and calling for an immediate halt to violations of prisoners’ rights.
On Saturday, 27th Saratan, the alliance issued a statement on X emphasizing that no person, regardless of political or military affiliation, should be subjected to torture, humiliation, forced confessions, or extrajudicial punishment while in captivity. According to the organization, respecting human dignity and human rights principles is mandatory under all circumstances.
The statement noted that the dissemination of confession videos from detained individuals, while their free will and the circumstances of recording are unverifiable, cannot serve as a basis for fair judgment. The alliance warned that such actions could lead to abuse and deepen mistrust in conflict-affected areas.
Directly addressing the Taliban administration, the Human Rights Activists Alliance asserted that it lacks legal legitimacy from their perspective and strongly condemned any hostage-taking, arbitrary detention, torture, retaliations against local residents, and actions violating human dignity carried out by the group. This position comes amid local reports indicating growing concerns over the situation of civilians in Yafteh.
The alliance also emphasized that safeguarding the lives of civilians is the legal responsibility of all parties involved and urged preventing any violent acts that could increase civilian casualties.
Finally, the statement called on international organizations to independently investigate and document the status of hostages and any potential human rights violations in Yafteh district to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
