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The arrest of Faizullah Jalal raises fears that the Taliban will re-establish strict rules on freedom of expression.
A sharp critique of Afghan university professors and Taliban leadership has been arrested in Kabul.
Faizullah Jalal, a longtime professor of law and political science at Kabul University, has made several appearances on television talks since the US-backed government was ousted in August, accusing the Taliban of escalating the financial crisis and forcing it to rule. .
In a televised statement, Jalal called Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem a “calf”, a serious insult to Afghanistan. Clips of his passionate criticism went viral on social media, sparking concern for retaliation.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted that Jalal was arrested on Saturday for statements by the Taliban military intelligence on social media that he was “trying to push people against the system and acting with the dignity of the people.”
“They have been arrested for failing to make meaningless comments like others in the name of being a teacher or scholar who harms the dignity of others,” he added.
Mujahideen shared screenshots of tweets posted by Jalal, said the Taliban intelligence chief was a nuisance in Pakistan, and that the new government considered Afghans to be “donkeys”.
Aamaj News local news agency reported that the account Mujahid referred to, @ UstadJalal1, was fake. The teacher tweeted on Saturday from his official Twitter handle, @JalalFaizullah, to denounce that the account was the same.
Please report it @ UstadJalal1 account. This is a false account and does not belong to Professor Faizullah Jalal.
– Dr. Faizullah Jalal (@JalalFaizullah) January 8, 2022
Jalal’s wife, who ran against former President Hamid Karzai in 2004 as the first woman candidate for Afghanistan’s Massouda presidency, posted on Facebook that her husband had been arrested by Taliban forces and detained in an unknown location.
“Dr. Jalal has fought for and advocated for justice and the national interest in all human rights activities,” he said.
TOLO TV, Faizuallah Jalal, a frequent commentator on Afghanistan’s largest news channel, tweeted that Jalal had been arrested for “making allegations against government departments,” a security source said.
Freedom of speech
The human rights group Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of the professor for his “use of freedom of expression and criticism of the Taliban” and called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Amnesty International condemns the arrest of Professor Faizullah Jalal, a professor at Kabul University, for using his freedom of expression and criticizing the Taliban in a television program. We call on the Taliban authorities to release them immediately and unconditionally. #FreeJalal https://t.co/UgZ821qrTv
– Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) January 8, 2022
Patricia Gossman, Asia’s associate director of Human Rights Watch, reacted to the news of the arrest in a tweet: “Because you have no right to complain or criticize in the Taliban world. Authoritarian repressive regimes do not allow dissent. “
In a tweet early Sunday, Jalal’s daughter Hasina Jalal demanded her father’s release. “I call on the Taliban to release my father immediately,” he said.
It’s been six hours since my father was arrested by Professor Jalal, and we haven’t been able to contact him since. I call on the Taliban to release my father immediately. Please join my call. #FreeProfessorJalal #FreeJalal @hrw @POTUS @afghanistan @SecBlinken
– Hasina Jalal (@HasinaJalal) January 8, 2022
The Taliban have created one men’s cabinet made up entirely of members of the group, and almost exclusively of ethnic Pashtuns.
They are even more limited women’s travel rights, work and studies, leading to widespread international condemnation.
US sanctions on the Taliban government have been halted much needed international support Afghanistan, facing an epic humanitarian crisis. The United Nations warns that 90% of the country’s 38 million people are in dire need.
The detention could further complicate humanitarian aid efforts, as it reinforces the Taliban’s fear of imposing the same harsh and repressive rules it had when it was last in power from 1996-2001.
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