Accused of burning Quran, man dies in Taliban jail

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Taliban militants killed a man for allegedly burning a copy of the holy Quran in Aqcha district of northern Jawzjan province, claimed the spy service on Wednesday.

But the Taliban rejected the claim.

The National Directorate of Security (NDS) in a statement said that Abdul Rahman Farzand, a resident of Jangal-i-Arigh village of Mardian district, allegedly torched the holy book six days ago.

The statement said the victim, who was a drug addict, was not mentally sound.

Abdul Rahman was arrested by his family in compliance with order from Maulvi Niamatullah, the Taliban shadow district chief for Aqcha, and was transferred to their hideout in the village where he was later killed.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Abdul Wahed Wajdan, police chief for Jawzjan, said Abdul Rahman beat his mother before burning the Quran.

He added that Abdul Rahman’s mother had complained to the Taliban about the incident.

"The Taliban transferred Abdul Rahman to their base and tortured him, and this long torture resulted in his death," he said.

But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a text message that local people and family members had arrested the man and handed him over to the Taliban.

He said the man died inside the room where he had been kept might be due to lack of drugs.

He said it was not known how the man died. He might have eaten something poisonous or used something to take his own life.

sa/ma