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An Afghan girl has alleged that a former Taliban spokesperson forcibly married and repeatedly raped her.
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In a video posted on-line, the medical scholar detailed alleged abuse and says she fears she may be killed.
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Taliban Qari Saeed Khosty says that the wedding was consensual, however her Muslim “faith is weak.”
An Afghan girl has alleged that former Taliban spokesperson Qari Saeed Khosty forcibly married and repeatedly raped her.
In a video that has unfold on-line, a tearful girl recognized herself as Elaha and claimed that Khosty forcibly married her in January.
“He raped me every night. He tortured and beat me up every night,” she stated.
Elaha stated she was a scholar at Kabul Medical University and the daughter of a former general who labored on the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Kabul below the US-supported authorities.
In the video, which incorporates photos showing to present her accidents, she additionally claimed that Khosty filmed her rape and blackmailed her with it.
Elaha particulars as soon as attempting to escape earlier than being caught by Taliban officers on the Torkham border crossing to Pakistan. She claimed she was imprisoned and ordered to apologize to Khosty and kiss his toes.
“After posting this video, maybe no one will see me again, I might be killed. But to die once is better than dying a thousand times,” Elaha stated.
CBS News spoke to a pal of Elaha, who confirmed her story and stated she continues to be determined to flee the nation.
Khosty, who was faraway from his function because the Taliban’s Interior Ministry spokesman in March, took to Twitter to deny the allegations. He has claimed the wedding was consensual and says there have been points as a result of her Muslim “faith is weak.” He had determined to divorce her as a result of she insulted the Quran, he stated
In his tweet, Khosty apologized to the Taliban for taking Elaha as his second spouse, which was in violation of the group’s new ban on taking multiple wives final yr.
Khosty didn’t reply to Insider’s request for remark.
A video additionally circulated on social media showing to present Elaha’s mother using a broom to forestall Khosty from getting into her house.
Another video seems to present Khosty in Elaha’s house. Khosty could be heard warning Elaha that he has gunmen with him.
Elaha seems to be seen lying injured in a hospital mattress in one other video.
Journalist Ruchi Kumar stated on Twitter that she had verified the veracity of the movies. She added that she had heard reviews of many ladies associated to former Afghan safety officers going through abuse, sexual assault, and forced marriage by Taliban fighters.
“The “amnesty” apparently doesn’t extend to women of their family,” she famous, referring to the group’s promise that it will not search retribution in opposition to former authorities officers.
Despite the guarantees of amnesty, reviews have frequently emerged about former government officials and activists being focused by the Taliban.
The Taliban has dismantled constructions to shield girls and women from violence
Since the Taliban took management of Afghanistan in August 2021, worldwide charities have raised considerations concerning the group’s remedy of girls.
According to UN Women, the militant group has systematically excluded girls and women from public life since its takeover, together with banning women from attending faculty past the sixth grade and stopping girls from working many roles outdoors the house.
The group additionally dismantled constructions to shield girls and women from violence, together with shutting shelters, authorized help packages, and specialised prosecution models and courts, in accordance to Human Rights Watch.
A Twitter account claiming to be of a Kabul courtroom tweeted on Wednesday that Elaha had been arrested for defamation, however the tweet was stated to be faux by each the Taliban-run Supreme Court and Elaha’s pal, per CBS News.
In response to Elaha’s video, the hashtag #JusticeForElaha unfold throughout social media in assist of her.
Samira Hamidi, a South Asia-based campaigner with Amnesty International, referred to as on the United Nations to save Elaha.
“The testimony of Elaha, a medical student about her forced marriage, rape & torture by a powerful Armed Talib is shocking reality of what dozens of women & girls are facing,” she wrote on Twitter.
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