Afghan government orders overhaul of prison system

KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — Taliban leader Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada has directed officials to review the situation of prisoners across Afghanistan and to expand mosque construction in the capital, according to government statements.

Independent Afghan outlet Tolonews reported that the orders were issued during the Taliban-led Afghan Government’s fourth cabinet meeting in Kandahar. The session also called for measures to strengthen religious education in mosques and madrassas nationwide.

Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the cabinet discussed prison conditions, case files, sentencing durations, and court rulings. The Prison Affairs Administration’s spokesman, Mohammad Naseem Lalahand, added that the department is working to improve facilities for detainees — including men, women, and minors.

Rights advocates and analysts have urged the Taliban authorities to make any reforms transparent and consistent with international human rights norms. “Addressing prisoners’ problems is important. They too have the right to live like human beings and should be provided with facilities in education and health,” said political analyst Gul Mohammaddin Mohammadi. Another analyst, Sayed Akbar Sial, stressed the need for timely legal reviews of detainees’ cases.

Official statistics from the Prison Affairs Administration indicate that between 13,000 and 14,000 people are currently in custody across the country, including women and children. Many facilities face overcrowding and limited resources, with conditions varying widely between provinces.

The directives on prison reform come alongside Akhundzada’s instruction for Kabul Municipality to identify underserved neighborhoods and build mosques there. Religious education reforms will also be prioritized, with plans to revive and strengthen teaching in both urban and rural religious institutions.