Date: 26/12/1403

Testimony of Sexual Abuse and Ill-Treatment of Woman Detainee by Taliban Authorities
Nadia Sadat, a former Taliban detainee, told Afghanistan International on Sunday that she was subjected to sexual abuse and degrading treatment while in Taliban custody. According to her testimony, Taliban members stripped her naked, filmed her, and touched her body while she was detained.
Ms. Sadat stated that she was arrested for participating in protests against the Taliban and for speaking to the media about the closure of schools and universities for women and girls. She reported being held for approximately two weeks, after which she was released upon payment of a large sum of money. She further stated that since her release, she has suffered from illness and insomnia. Ms. Sadat also alleged that a senior Taliban official in Balkh Province proposed marriage to her following her detention. Describing conditions in Taliban prisons, she stated that detainees are treated in ways that strip them of dignity and humanity, and that Taliban claims regarding public security and safety do not align with the experiences of those held in custody.

The testimony of Nadia Sadat reveals severe abuses committed against a woman detainee by Taliban authorities, including sexual violence, humiliation, and coercion in detention. The stripping, filming, and sexual touching of a woman held for peaceful protest and expression constitute grave forms of ill-treatment intended to punish, intimidate, and silence women who challenge Taliban policies. The use of detention, sexual abuse, and financial extortion, combined with subsequent harassment by a senior official, reflects a broader pattern of gender-based repression and abuse of power. These practices undermine bodily integrity, dignity, and personal security, and illustrate the use of detention as a tool of gendered violence and political intimidation rather than lawful enforcement.