A family in Parwan province, north of Kabul, claimed on Saturday that a Taliban member who is reportedly a close aide and relative of the Taliban mayor in Charikar city, sexually abused an 18-year-old woman in their family.
Speaking to Amu, one relative said the accused, Fazl Rahman, entered a house in the city of Charikar with a group of armed Taliban members four months ago and sexually abused the woman. He also opened fire on members of the family and left the area afterwards, the relative claimed.
“Fazl Rahman asked us not to move and then entered the girl’s room… He threatened to kill us if we spoke about the incident,” he said.
The woman has since graduated from a midwifery institute in Parwan.
The accused, who is believed to be an employee of Charikar municipality, is also a graduate from a medical institute in Parwan.
Taliban mayor for Parwan, Nikmal Agha, said he has no ties with a Fazl Rahman.
“We don’t have an employee by this name,” he said. “I cannot confirm if he has been one of our visitors.”
But two sources from the province who are aware of the matter said Rahman is the mayor’s assistant and cousin.
Taliban governor’s spokesman in Parwan, Hekmatullah Shamim, said he is not aware of the incident, but confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the alleged incident.
“The family lodged a complaint 15 days ago and our assessment is underway,” he added.
But two relatives of the family have met Taliban officials in Parwan many times, but have reportedly been asked to not pursue the issue.
Meanwhile, in late August, Elaha Dilawarzai, a woman in Kabul, claimed that in January she was forced to marry Qari Saeed Khosti, the former spokesman for the Taliban’s interior ministry.
The woman also claimed that she was beaten, tortured and raped by Khosti, who has since denied the allegations.
He said the allegations were baseless and he has parted ways with the woman.
