POLITICS — April 13, 2026
Taliban Arrest Six on Witchcraft Charges
The Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice arrested six people on witchcraft charges and referred them to judicial authorities after religious procedures. The ministry has banned talisman writing, witchcraft and sorcery, with former spokesman Mohammad Sadiq Akef stating that killing sorcerers is permissible under Sharia.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
KABUL (Afghan Verified) — The Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice arrested six people on charges of witchcraft and referred them to judicial authorities after conducting religious procedures, according to a statement posted on the ministry's official website.
The ministry detailed that the detained individuals underwent religious procedures before being transferred to judicial institutions for further action.
The ministry has issued a ban on talisman writing, witchcraft and sorcery. Mohammad Sadiq Akef, a former spokesman for the ministry, announced the ban and stated that killing sorcerers and witches is permissible according to Sharia.
Enforcers from the ministry have previously arrested numerous individuals on similar charges. The Promotion of Virtue law, approved in Shahrivar 1403, grants the ministry's enforcers broad powers, including the authority to patrol and carry out arrests across Afghanistan.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
Reliability assessment
Single source directly citing the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue's official website with concrete details (six arrests, religious procedures, referral to judiciary) and on-record statement from named former spokesman Mohammad Sadiq Akef.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Afghanistan International: 'It is unclear what this ministry means by "witch," but it arrests people for talisman writing under this name' – expresses skepticism about the ministry's vague or potentially abusive definitions; 'gives broad powers to these enforcers' – frames the law with a connotation of excessive authority.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
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Afghanistan International
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Politics — Taliban, Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue, Mohammad Sadiq Akef, witchcraft, Sharia enforcement
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