A prominent Afghan university professor and outspoken critic of the Taliban leadership has been arrested in Kabul.
Faizullah Jalal, a longtime professor of law and political science at Kabul University, has made several appearances on television talk shows since the US-backed government was pushed out in August, blaming the Taliban for the worsening financial crisis and criticising them for ruling by force.
In one television appearance, Jalal called Taliban spokesman Mohammad Naeem a βcalfβ, a grave insult in Afghanistan. Clips of his passionate criticism went viral on social media, sparking concerns of retribution.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted that Jalal had been detained on Saturday by the Talibanβs intelligence arm over statements he made on social media in which he was βtrying to instigate people against the system and was playing with the dignity of the peopleβ.
βHe has been arrested so that others donβt make similar senseless comments in the name of being a professor or scholar that harm the dignity of others,β he added.
