Dozens of protesters were detained by Taliban forces in Faryab province, northern Afghanistan, following a demonstration against the group's local police administration in Dawlatabad district, Afghanistan International (Afintl.af) reports, citing local sources.
According to at least four independent sources, demonstrators chanted slogans in support of former Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum—“Long live Dostum!”—and entered the district police headquarters. The protest was sparked by the arrest of several young men involved in an altercation allegedly related to harassment of girls during Eid celebrations in Dawlatabad.
Crowds gathered outside the Taliban police station demanding the release of the detainees. In response, Taliban forces reportedly carried out additional arrests and tightened security in the area. Some protesters stormed the police building, prompting a harsh reaction from Taliban personnel.
Eyewitnesses said Taliban fighters, some in civilian clothing, began searching homes to locate demonstrators. The district center has since been effectively locked down, and residents now fear leaving their homes due to the risk of arrest.
Video footage from the scene shows large crowds assembled around the police compound. The exact number of those detained remains unclear, with estimates ranging from 35 to 100 people.
The Taliban has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
June 11, 2025