The Taliban have arbitrarily detained nearly 2,000 people in Afghanistan since they regained power in August 2021, according to a report by a rights group released on Monday.

“Those detained mainly include previous government employees, women protesters, human rights defenders, civil society activists and journalists,” Rawadari, a newly established rights group, said.

It added, “Others are religious scholars, members of the Salafi sect, tribal elders and civilians accused of being associated with National Resistance Front (NRF).”

The report was compiled by the rights group whose executive director is Shaharzad Akbar, the former head of Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission.

The Taliban authorities have not reacted to the report yet, but the group have disregarded similar reports by the United Nations as propaganda.

Upon returning to power, the Taliban supreme leader announced a general amnesty for its opponents.

But the media have repeatedly documented arbitrary arrests and killings allegedly carried out by individuals or institutions controlled by the Taliban.

The extremists have publicly suppressed peaceful women’s demonstrations and detained journalists covering such protests or security incidents.

The Taliban have imposed draconian policies against women and restricted human rights in the country, including depriving women and girls of their right to education.

(dpa/NAN)