Sign in

Taliban torture arrested Afghan YouTuber Ajmal Haqiqi and his team: Report

On June 9, the Taliban arrested Haqiqi along with three people for allegedly “disrespecting” Islam and the Quran, as per videos released by Afghanistan's new rulers.

Published on: Jul 23, 2022, 08:06:57 IST
Written by | Edited by
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

The Taliban are torturing arrested Afghan model and YouTuber Ajmal Haqiqi, along with other three people, reported news agency ANI citing sources. Reportedly, the Taliban tortured them by brutally beating them with rods and filmed it “for fun” - which then went viral on social media.

FILE - Ajmal Haqiqi, right, watches as Mahal Wak, center, practices modeling, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2017. The Taliban have detained a famous Afghan fashion model along with three colleagues, including Haqiqi, accusing them of disrespecting Islam and the Holy Quran.  (AP)
FILE - Ajmal Haqiqi, right, watches as Mahal Wak, center, practices modeling, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 3, 2017. The Taliban have detained a famous Afghan fashion model along with three colleagues, including Haqiqi, accusing them of disrespecting Islam and the Holy Quran.  (AP)

On June 9, the Taliban arrested Haqiqi along with three people for allegedly “disrespecting” Islam and the Quran, as per videos released by Afghanistan's new rulers.

The model known for his fashion shows, modelling events, and YouTube videos had reportedly appeared handcuffed in a light brown jail uniform - in the videos released by the Taliban.

Also read: Why will Afghanistan remain unstable, violent and in an economic mess?

Reportedly, the model was seen laughing as his colleague Ghulam Sakhi — who is known to have a speech impediment that he uses for humour — recited the verses of the Quran in Arabic in a comical tone. Upon this, the Taliban arrested Haqiqi and his colleagues as “no one is allowed to insult Quranic verses or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad”.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has been calling on the Taliban to release them, reported ANI citing Khaama Press.

Ever since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August last year, they have imposed hard censorship on media.

Also read: UN slams killings, human rights abuses under Afghanistan's Taliban

Over the year, the Taliban brought in stringent measures, particularly regarding the rights of women and minorities - from ordering all the female presenters on TV channels to cover their faces on air to implementing a ‘gender segregation' plan in the western Herat province - where men and women are not allowed to sit together in restaurants, even if they are husband and wife.

  • Poulomi Ghosh
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Poulomi Ghosh

    Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi.

Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.