Local sources in Bamyan province allege that Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Justice, has detained several employees of the provincial Justice Department, including four Hazara staff members.
According to the sources, the employees have reportedly been held in what they describe as a personal detention facility belonging to the Taliban’s Minister of Justice. The alleged detentions have reportedly been ongoing since Saturday, August 22.
Sources claim that only the head of the Bamyan Justice Department, its administrative manager and one contracted employee have not been detained. The remaining staff members are reportedly in Taliban custody.
There are conflicting accounts regarding the total number of employees working at the Bamyan Justice Department. One source puts the number at 21 employees, while another says there are 14. The discrepancy could not be independently verified.
The reported detention of Hazara employees has also raised concerns about possible discriminatory treatment within government institutions. However, the allegations, including the circumstances and reasons behind the reported arrests, have not been independently confirmed.
The development comes amid continuing concerns over governance, judicial independence and the treatment of ethnic minorities under Taliban rule. Human rights organizations have repeatedly called for transparency, due process and equal treatment of citizens within Afghanistan’s justice system.
Further clarification from Taliban authorities regarding the reported arrests, the identities of those detained and the reasons for their detention would be necessary to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case.