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Hundreds of Taliban prisoners released in northern Afghanistan
Gaunt and bewildered, hundreds of Taliban inmates released from desperate conditions in a northern Afghan prison made their way home on Thursday. Some said that they had to buy their way out.
Gaunt and bewildered, hundreds of Taliban inmates released from desperate conditions in a northern Afghan prison made their way home on Thursday. Some said that they had to buy their way out.
Caroline Douilliez, spokeswoman for the International Red Cross, said that Gen Abdul Rachid Dostum, who controls the prison in Shibergan, released 614 prisoners on Wednesday. Dostum's deputy said that Narullah put the number at 560.
All of the prisoners were Taliban fighters from southern Afghanistan arrested as the Northern Alliance, backed by US-led airstrikes, drove the Taliban from power in northern Afghanistan in November.
The international committee of the Red Cross gave each inmate 500,000 Afghanis to pay their way home, but prisoners trickling into Kabul on Thursday said that the money was enough only to reach the Afghan capital.
“I have only the clothes on my back - and I got those from the Red Cross,” said Rachmatullah, 22, a former Taliban fighter from the southern city of Tarinkot. But I am happy to be free.”
Shibergan is considered Afghanistan's most horrific prison. The Red Cross began emergency feedings of all prisoners there last month - putting many prisoners on liquid diets to recover from severe malnutrition.
The prison was packed to about three times capacity with more than 2,700 detainees, including 800 Pakistanis arrested for fighting alongside the Taliban.
Bureau Report
The international committee of the Red Cross gave each inmate 500,000 Afghanis to pay their way home, but prisoners trickling into Kabul on Thursday said that the money was enough only to reach the Afghan capital.
“I have only the clothes on my back - and I got those from the Red Cross,” said Rachmatullah, 22, a former Taliban fighter from the southern city of Tarinkot. But I am happy to be free.”
Shibergan is considered Afghanistan's most horrific prison. The Red Cross began emergency feedings of all prisoners there last month - putting many prisoners on liquid diets to recover from severe malnutrition.
The prison was packed to about three times capacity with more than 2,700 detainees, including 800 Pakistanis arrested for fighting alongside the Taliban.
Bureau Report