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The Taliban has been using family members as hostages to suppress free speech among Afghan citizens

The Taliban has been using family members as hostages to suppress free speech among Afghan citizens

The Taliban has been using family members as hostages to suppress free speech among Afghan citizens. This tactic is aimed at silencing those who speak out against the Taliban’s human rights abuses and unjust policies. Those who are outside of Afghanistan and are able to write about the current situation in the country are particularly targeted, as the Taliban threatens to harm their family members if they continue to speak out.

One such individual is Moqtaseed Stari, a human rights activist from southeast Afghanistan who is currently living outside of the country. His brothers have been taken hostage by the Taliban, including his 17-year-old brother Ayaz Pacha. The Taliban has detained Ayaz Pacha solely because his brother Moqtaseed has been writing about the Taliban’s violations of human rights.

This type of hostage-taking is a clear violation of basic human rights and must be condemned by the international community. The use of children as hostages is particularly egregious and must be met with strong opposition from children’s rights organizations.

We urge human rights organizations and children’s rights organizations to put pressure on the Taliban to release all hostages, including Moqtaseed Stari’s brothers and all other children who have been detained by the Taliban. We also request that the international community take action to protect the basic human rights of all Afghan citizens, and to support those who are working to promote freedom and democracy in the country.

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