UN reports 443 arbitrary Taliban detentions

The U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said Taliban morality police arbitrarily arrested or detained 443 people and documented 97 cases of ill-treatment from July through September 2026. The reported cases involved alleged violations of rules on women’s hijab, men’s beards and hairstyles, attendance at prayers, and music; UNAMA said more than 50 incidents involved women detained or warned over hijab, including a case involving a 13-year-old girl. The mission also reported four killings and 14 arbitrary detentions of former Afghan security force members despite the Taliban’s announced general amnesty. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid rejected the findings, saying the detentions were lawful and accusing UNAMA of propaganda. UNAMA additionally reported civilian deaths and injuries in cross-border incidents, suspensions of media outlets, and continued restrictions on Afghan women’s access to U.N. premises.