AFGHANOTES #4

Afghan Journalists Recount How Taliban Tortured Them

“One of Them Put His Foot on my Head”

AFGHANOTES is the testimony of a team of Afghan journalists  reporting  the events and daily life in Afghanistan for Outriders since the Taliban swept into Kabul on August 15, 2021.

Photo: Etilaatroz

At 10:00 AM on Wednesday September 8, 2021, Taqi Daryabi and Nemat Naqdi, two journalists from Etilaatroz newspaper, checked their cameras, memory cards, batteries and mobile phones.

The night before, the Taliban had announced their all-Taliban, all male cabinet members.

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A group of women from Dasht-e Barchi in western Kabul had taken to the street to protest.

Taqi and Nemat went to Karte Chahar in western Kabul to cover the women’s demonstration.

Forces from Kabul’s police district third were deployed there to stop the protesters.

They were firing in the air and using whips to intimidate and disperse the protesters.

First, Taqi Daryabi, who is 22 years old, was detained by the Taliban.

Then they took Nemat Naqdi, a 28-years reporter.

They were taken to the third police district, where they were severely tortured on the order of the police district commander.

Several times during the torture, Taqi lost consciousness. 

Nemat also suffered trauma and shock caused by Talibans’ torture.

After being released from the police office they had to be taken to hospital. 

They said most of the people who  beat them were very young. “They were about twenty years old.”

Almost unable to speak, with a torso and back full of wounds and bruises due to the kicking and flogging, they explained how were tortured for covering the women protest:

“One of them put his foot on my head, pressing and pulling it to break my neck.” 

“They crushed my face against the concrete floor of the room.” 

“I was beaten with batons, whips, cables, pipes and was kicked.”

“It’s unacceptable and unforgettable”, said Liala, Taki’s mother, when he saw his son leave the hospital barely unable to walk.

Taliban officials have not reacted to the detention and torture of Etilaatroz reporters by Taliban fighters.