New Delhi: Professor Faizullah Jalal, a professor of law and political science at Kabul University was arrested by the Taliban Saturday.
Jalal’s daughter, Hasina Jalal, tweeted late Saturday night that it had been over six hours since the arrest of her father and that she had not been able to contact him. She further called on the Taliban to immediately release Jalal, tagging United States President Joe Biden, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Human Rights Watch and UN Afghanistan.
“It has been six hours since the arrest of my father, Professor Jalal, and ever since we have not been able to contact him. I call on the Taliban to immediately release my father. Please join my call.”
It has been six hours since the arrest of my father, Professor Jalal, and ever since, we have not been able to contact him. I call on the Taliban to immediately release my father. Please join my call. #FreeProfessorJalal #FreeJalal @hrw @POTUS @unafghanistan @SecBlinken
— Hasina Jalal (@HasinaJalal) January 8, 2022
It has been reported that in a statement late Saturday night Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the arrest of Jalal, and said that he was inciting people to violence against the Taliban government through his social media posts.
Amnesty International South Asia condemned Jalal’s arrest and further asked that he be released immediately.
“Amnesty International condemns the arrest of Professor Faizullah Jalal, Kabul university lecturer for exercising his freedom of expression and criticising the Taliban on a TV show. We call on the Taliban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him. #FreeJalal,” it said.
Amnesty International condemns the arrest of Professor Faizullah Jalal, Kabul university lecturer for exercising his freedom of expression and criticizing the Taliban on a TV show. We call on the Taliban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him. #FreeJalal https://t.co/UgZ821qrTv
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) January 8, 2022
A security source told Kabul-based TOLO News that Jalal was arrested for criticising government agencies.
یک منبع امنیتی امارت اسلامی به طلوع‌نیوز تأیید می‌کند که فیض الله جلال، استاد دانشگاه و آگاه امور سیاسی، امروز از سوی نیروهای امنیتی بازداشت شده است. به گفته منبع، آقای جلال به علت متهم کردن شماری از نهادهای حکومتی بازداشت شده و اکنون در ریاست استخبارات از وی بازجویی می‌شود. pic.twitter.com/90rc5UEmz3
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) January 8, 2022
Also read: Taliban curbs on working women could cut Afghanistan GDP by 5%: UN report
Boldly criticised Taliban regime
In November 2021, three months after the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban, Jalal, an outspoken critic of previous governments as well, boldly critiqued the Taliban de facto regime in a live debate on TOLO News (Afghanistan’s first 24/7 news channel).
At the time, the South Asia Democratic Forum wrote, “While his remarks were shared and supported by Afghans from around the world, people now also fear for his safety.”
Hours after the debate, the Taliban announced they would share new rules for the regulation of the media. In these regulations, the media would be required to produce content that only “calls people to goodness”. Additionally, all media content would be examined by the Ministry of Vice and Virtue.
Jalal and his family have survived many attacks over the years. In 2019, their home was bombed by terrorists.
(Edited by Saikat Niyogi)
Also read: What my 20 years in Afghanistan taught me about the Taliban