Sexual Assault and Abuse in Taliban Detention Centers
At least ten women have separately told Afghanistan International that they were subjected to sexual assault or abuse by members of the Taliban while in detention. Among them, eight women reported being raped, and two others said that Taliban members filmed and photographed their naked bodies during interrogation.
Several women stated that these assaults occurred while guards recorded the rape on their mobile phones, or in cells equipped with cameras monitored by the Taliban’s Prison Administration Directorate.
Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights for Afghanistan, confirmed that he is seriously aware of these reports and that investigations are underway.
Ahmad Zia Saraj, former head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS), confirmed that during his tenure, cameras had been installed in the cells of Departments 40 and 90, as well as in the Kabul Provincial Intelligence Directorate.
He explained that these cameras were installed at the request and with the support of the international community, and that UNAMA’s Human Rights Unit, the Red Cross, and the U.S. Embassy conducted monitoring visits every few months to ensure detainees were not being tortured by NDS personnel.
Mr. Saraj added that international organizations currently no longer have access to these cameras, and he does not know whether they remain active.
He stated that the Taliban are using such tactics to break women’s spirits and force them into silence.
The women who testified for this report previously played active roles in Afghan society — including teachers, healthcare workers, students, civil society activists, models, and social media content creators. They believe they were targeted because of their public and professional roles. However, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Kabul reported that every month at least two to three rape victims come to her hospital seeking pregnancy tests.
This doctor, whose name and workplace are withheld for security reasons, said that most victims are from remote rural areas and that the majority are under the age of 18.
She noted that under the hospital’s official policy, she cannot assist women seeking abortions, but she does conduct their pregnancy tests.
The victims continue to face severe physical and psychological consequences after the assaults. Some still bear signs of torture on their bodies and have been forced to take psychiatric medication to cope. At least four women said they attempted suicide in the aftermath of the rape or continue struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Batool Haidari, a psychiatrist specializing in trauma from sexual violence, told Afghanistan International that the greatest fear victims express after being assaulted is becoming pregnant by Taliban members. Having worked with at least eight such victims, she said they endure acute trauma after the assault, and the fear of pregnancy, the need for pregnancy testing, and the question of abortion become major psychological challenges.
She added that many women — especially young girls — focus less on the physical pain of torture and more on the fear of being impregnated. Haidari emphasized that she has supported some of her clients in obtaining informal abortions through local physicians, noting that abortion has been an essential part of their recovery process.
Beyond physical and psychological harm, the social consequences of these assaults have been devastating. Two women reported that their husbands left them after learning of the incidents. Another woman said she is still trying to help her husband understand that she was a victim of circumstances beyond her control. A young transgender survivor said their family has disowned them.
This report is based on interviews with dozens of women subjected to Taliban violence, as well as with doctors, human rights activists, and security experts. Of nearly twenty survivors of Taliban sexual abuse and assault interviewed, only ten agreed to have their accounts published; the rest declined due to security concerns.

This entry documents reports of sexual violence and abuse against women detained by Taliban authorities in detention facilities. Survivors reported rape, sexual assault, and the filming or photographing of naked bodies during interrogation, indicating the use of sexual violence and humiliation as coercive tactics in detention. The allegations suggest that sexual assault was used to intimidate detainees and silence women who had previously been active in public or professional roles. Testimonies from medical professionals and trauma specialists further indicate severe physical, psychological, and social consequences for survivors, including fear of pregnancy, long-term trauma, and family rejection. The case highlights patterns of abuse within detention settings and raises serious concerns regarding torture, sexual violence, and the treatment of detainees under Taliban authority.