Uzbek Activists Arrested in Northern Afghanistan Over Commemoration of Jombesh Party Deputy.
The arrest of Ataullah Turkistani in Takhar province has once again raised concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and the suppression of civil activists in Afghanistan.
Local sources report that Taliban-affiliated forces detained him, an act widely viewed as pressure on dissenting voices and local social figures.
According to these sources, the reason for Mr. Turkistani’s arrest was his commemoration of the role of Piram Qol Ziaee, a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament and a local uprising commander in Takhar province.
Mr. Ziaee was killed on 12 Sawr 1400 (corresponding to May 2, 2021) as a result of a landmine explosion. It is reported that two days prior to his death, he had led a “military operation against the Taliban” in the Kokcha River area.
Piram Qol Ziaee, an ethnic Uzbek from Afghanistan, had served for years as a deputy within the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan.
The targeted arrest of Mr. Turkistani has intensified concerns about the systematic suppression of Uzbek activists and civil figures, underscoring that responsibility for his safety and well-being lies with local authorities.
So far, Taliban officials have not issued any clear or public response regarding this arrest.
