Saturday 8 January 2022
Insulting Islamists with a “calf”
The Taliban kidnaps the critical professor
Public contradiction has become rare in Afghanistan. In a televised debate in November, Professor Jalal dubbed the Taliban spokesman “the calf” in the midst of this moment and called for freedom of expression and reforms. Now it has been captured. Many worry about his future fate.
Afghanistan’s ruling hard-line Islamist movement has arrested a professor who has made a name for himself across the country by publicly criticizing their regime. Taliban intelligence officers removed Faisal Jalal, a professor at Kabul University, from his home in the Afghan capital that afternoon, his wife, Masuda Jalal, said on Facebook. Hours after the incident was announced, a Taliban spokesman confirmed his arrest.
The professor, who is a Tajik, had a debate with a Taliban spokesman live on TV on November 21. He criticized the Taliban for suppressing its critics and once described the speaker as a “calf,” a serious insult to the country. “People don’t have bread to eat. How is security? Nobody can say anything,” Faisal Jalal said in the discussion. Tolonews . TV transmitters. The Taliban will have to reform because people are fleeing the country under their rule. Many Afghans stood behind the professor on social networks and used his photo as their profile picture.
worried about his safety
The law and political science lecturer was already a frequent guest on television debates in previous years and was known for his outspoken criticism, who also met with former presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani. The video of the discussion made its way onto the internet and went viral, and Jalal received much praise for his bravery. However, many people were also worried about his safety.
“The Taliban has never tolerated criticism and freedom of expression,” said Patricia Gusman, director of Human Rights Watch in Asia, and called for the professor’s immediate release. The Taliban took power in Kabul in mid-August last year after the withdrawal of foreign forces. Several former government officials have since been killed or arrested.
