Several child labourers detained by the Taliban allege they were subjected to sexual abuse, beatings and coercive religious instruction while in custody, according to interviews conducted by Amu TV, raising serious concerns about the treatment of minors under Taliban rule.
The children, most of whom work on the streets to support their families, said they were detained during street round-ups in Kabul and other areas and taken to Taliban-run prisons or so-called Dar-ul-Hifaz facilities, centres authorities say are meant to provide protection and assistance.
One child, identified here by the pseudonym Mohammad to protect his identity, said he had been detained three times by the Taliban and was held for 11 days at Badam Bagh prison in north of Kabul.
“They arrested us and took us to Badam Bagh prison,” he said. “The food was very bad. They beat us and told us not to work anymore. Some of them made obscene comments, touched our hair and our bodies. We were afraid. They were very bad people.”
Mohammad said he was released after nearly two weeks and returned to informal work, adding that no assistance was provided after his release.
Other children described similar experiences of harsh treatment in detention, including physical violence, threats and psychological pressure. Several said they were taken to Dar-ul-Hifaz centres under the promise of aid but were instead kept for days or weeks.
One child said he was detained while working on a cart in Kabul. “We were working when the Taliban came and took us to a Dar-ul-Hifaz centre,” he said. “There were many children there.”
Another child, Navid, said he and his two brothers sell bags on the streets to support their family. He said he was taken to a Taliban-run centre after being told he would receive assistance.
“They said they would help us and gave us 100 afghanis per week, but that stopped,” Navid said. “I escaped one morning during prayers. The next day, when I was working again, they tried to put me in a vehicle. I jumped out and got injured, but they caught me again.”
Several children said that during detention they were required to attend religious instruction sessions focused on jihad and were told they would need to continue such training in the future.
“They beat us and said we should stop working,” one child said. “They said they would help us, but after we were released, there was nothing.”
Human rights activists said the accounts point to a broader pattern of abuse, exploitation and ideological coercion affecting vulnerable children since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.
“Children from poor families are being taken off the streets and placed in closed facilities without legal safeguards,” said an Afghan human rights activist, who requested anonymity due to security concerns. “In some cases, they are subjected to indoctrination, abuse and pressure to join religious or militant structures.”
Rights groups have previously warned that economic collapse, widespread poverty and the suspension of many child-protection programmes have left millions of children vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Taliban have repeatedly denied allegations of mistreatment in detention and say they protect children’s rights in accordance with Islamic principles. Requests for comment sent to Taliban spokespersons and officials at Badam Bagh prison received no response.
According to international agencies, child labour has risen sharply in Afghanistan, with millions of children working in hazardous conditions as families struggle to survive amid declining aid and ongoing economic hardship.
