Viral Video Of Former Afghan Military Officer Beaten By His Troops, Taliban: The Perpetrator Has Been Arrested

Taliban illustration. (Twitter/@HabibiSamanhani)

JAKARTA - The Taliban said they had detained a number of people suspected of involvement in the beating of a former Afghan military official, which circulated and went viral on social media on Wednesday.

The deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, said the Islamic Emirate would investigate allegations of mistreatment by its forces against former members of the security forces.

"The perpetrator has been arrested and is undergoing investigation. The Islamic Emirate will hold accountable all those who violate the law and take reckless actions," he explained, quoted from Tolo News, December 30.

Earlier, a video that went viral on social media showed a former military official, Rahmatullah Qadiri, being insulted and treated harshly by members of the Islamic Emirate.

The video sparked condemnation of the Islamic Emirate by Afghans on social media, calling on the Taliban to remain committed to the general amnesty delivered by Taliban Supreme Leader Maullawi Hibatullah Akhundzada.

However, according to members of Qadiri's family, he has not been released by the Islamic Emirate.

"My father is still not released, I want to see him," said Sangar, Qadiri's son. "Please let go of my father," continued the sister Fareshta.

Apart from family members, the residents also demanded that the Islamic Emirate prevent such actions from being carried out by its troops.

"Videos on social media contradict the decrees of the supreme leader of the Taliban and Islamic and humanitarian values," said Sediq Mansour, founder of Jarga-e-Mardom.

Earlier, Human Rights Watch in a late November report expressed concern over the alleged murder and abduction of former security forces.

"The amnesty promised by the Taliban leadership has not stopped local commanders from executing or eliminating former members of the Afghan security forces," criticized Patricia Gossman, Asia associate director at Human Rights Watch.

"The burden is on the Taliban to prevent further killings, hold those responsible accountable and compensate the families of the victims," he stressed.