Taliban arrest university professor and political analyst in Kabul
The Taliban have reportedly arrested Javed Momand, a university professor and political analyst, in Kabul, according to local sources. The arrest took place on Sunday, December 29th, when Taliban intelligence agents reportedly apprehended Momand outside his home. His whereabouts remain unknown, and the Taliban have yet to comment on the incident.
Witnesses and sources close to the situation stated that during the arrest, Momand was beaten and stoned by Taliban agents, who also confiscated his equipment used for recording video clips. Another reliable source confirmed that armed men, believed to be Taliban intelligence officers, forcibly took him from his residence, and his body has not been found since.
Javed Momand was well-known for his political commentary and often participated in televised debates prior to the Taliban banning him from appearing on television. In recent months, he had shared video commentaries on social media, particularly on Facebook, where he discussed various political and social issues in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s crackdown on media and political analysts has escalated since they returned to power in 2021, with many journalists, commentators, and analysts facing imprisonment, torture, or threats. Javed Kohistani, another political analyst, was similarly arrested by Taliban intelligence in Kabul earlier this year and was released after spending 20 days in prison.
International human rights organizations have condemned these actions, calling them part of a broader effort to silence dissent and restrict freedom of speech in Afghanistan. The Taliban have significantly tightened media controls, leading to an increase in the detention of political commentators, intellectuals, and journalists.
As the situation remains uncertain, concerns continue to grow over the Taliban's ongoing suppression of voices critical of their regime. The arrest of Momand marks yet another blow to free expression and intellectual discourse in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
