Taliban Detains 11 People on Witchcraft Charges in Afghanistan
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice has announced that its enforcers detained two individuals in Balkh and Ghazni provinces on charges of “witchcraft.” The ministry did not disclose the identities of those arrested but stated that they have been referred to the relevant Taliban courts.
A statement published on Tuesday, April 2, on the ministry’s official website reported that nine other people had been arrested last week in various provinces for similar accusations. No further details were provided regarding the exact locations of these arrests or how their cases are being handled.
The Taliban administration has not provided a clear definition of “witchcraft.” However, in previous instances, individuals have been detained for practices such as amulet writing or performing certain traditional acts linked to folk beliefs. This vague definition of the charge has raised concerns about the transparency of judicial procedures and the rights of the accused.
The Taliban’s morality enforcers operate mobile patrols across the country to monitor residents’ behavior. The Promotion of Virtue law, enacted in September 2024, grants these enforcers extensive powers, including the authority to detain individuals.
Legal experts have previously warned that granting such powers without independent oversight and clear definitions of crimes could lead to arbitrary actions and violations of citizens’ rights—a matter consistently criticized by human rights organizations.
