Afghanistan Releases 2,500 Prisoners Ahead Of Eid Celebrations

Afghanistan Releases 2,500 Prisoners Ahead Of Eid Celebrations

The Taliban government of Afghanistan has announced the release of nearly 2,500 prisoners in anticipation of the Eid-el-Fitr celebrations marking the end of Ramadan.

While the exact number of prisoners held across various security agencies in Afghanistan remains unclear, a spokesperson for the Office of Prison Administration informed AFP that between 11,000 and 12,000 convicted individuals are currently in custody…READ MORE….

This release is part of a customary practice ahead of Eid, which is expected to begin on Sunday. According to a statement from the Supreme Court shared on X, “2,463 prisoners eligible for amnesty have been released, while 3,152 others have had their sentences reduced,” as decreed by the Taliban’s supreme leader.

The United Nations has expressed concern over Afghanistan’s growing prison population, noting that the number of detainees is increasing, while the number of releases remains low. A report from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, published in October, highlighted the pressure on prison facilities, warning that the rising number of arrests and lengthy sentences were putting unsustainable strain on the system.

Last year, the Taliban released approximately 2,800 prisoners as part of the same Eid amnesty tradition.