The Taliban has arrested a social media user critical of its rule and reportedly coerced him into making a public confession.
According to sources, Taliban security forces detained Taimur Shah Jalalzai, a resident of Andar district in Ghazni province, on charges of spreading propaganda against the group.
Taliban officials stated that Jalalzai was identified and apprehended by the group’s cyber and technical unit. He has since confessed to his alleged activities, they claim.
Media outlets affiliated with the Taliban have circulated a video showing Jalalzai making what appears to be a forced confession. In the video, he asks the Taliban for forgiveness and pledges not to repeat his actions. Taliban sources allege that Jalalzai had been operating under pseudonyms on platforms such as TikTok and Facebook, where he posted what they described as “defamatory, propagandistic, and misleading” content.
Jalalzai is reportedly a resident of Liwan village in the Andar district of Ghazni province.
Over the past four years, the Taliban has detained thousands of individuals on similar charges, including accusations of anti-regime propaganda and criticism of its leadership. Among those arrested are more than a dozen journalists, raising ongoing concerns about freedom of expression and press under Taliban rule.