Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwari reported on X social network (formerly Twitter) about Syed Ghafoor Balkhi, describing him as “a former national security employee, educated and devout young man” who met a tragic fate.
According to Sarwari, after being forced to leave Iran where he had sought refuge following Kabul’s fall, Balkhi returned to Afghanistan only to be captured by the Taliban on the eve of Arafah while out shopping with merely 70 Afghanis in his pocket.
In his post, Sarwari detailed that several days after his capture, “the tortured body” of Ghafoor was handed over to “his elderly and ailing father.
” The journalist poignantly noted that the victim leaves behind “a wife and a young child,” highlighting the personal tragedy beyond the political violence.
Sarwari concluded his report with the sobering statement that “no one is allowed to voice complaints,” pointing to the atmosphere of fear and repression under Taliban rule. His reporting represents ongoing efforts by Afghan journalists to document human rights conditions in their country despite significant risks and challenges to press freedom.
Cloudflare