Taliban Intelligence Arrests Civil Activist and University Professor in Herat

A person close to Ghulam Nabi Modasser told the media today (Monday, 2 Sunbula) that he has been in Taliban intelligence custody for around 15 days and that his family has no information about his whereabouts or condition.

According to the source, Modasser was arrested on August 18 in the Jebrael area of Herat by Taliban intelligence forces.

One of his relatives said that Modasser is a civilian and that his civil activities and advocacy efforts have always been peaceful. His relatives have called on the media and human rights organizations to report on his situation and demand clarification of his fate and his release.

Sources say the reason for the activist’s arrest was the reposting of news about protests by residents of Jebrael and reporting on one of those protests’ fatalities.

On June 9, corresponding to 19 Jawza, a number of residents of Herat’s Hazara-populated Jebrael area held a demonstration to protest the detention of women and girls over their manner of dress.

According to a report by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the protest turned violent after Taliban forces in civilian clothing began beating protesters and firing at them.

UNAMA said that during the incident, a boy was killed by gunfire and at least four other people were injured. The UN body also reported that the Taliban detained at least 17 protesters.

The UNAMA report did not provide further details about the fate of those who were detained.