Residents of the Angoor Bagh area of Jalalabad city say the Taliban have been forcibly evicting families from their homes for the past two days, while warning others to vacate their houses as soon as possible. According to local sources, some of the affected families spent last night outdoors in the rain.
In response, the Taliban’s Supreme Court announced that, following a seven-month review of a land dispute in the area, it had ruled in favour of individuals it considers the rightful owners and ordered the land to be handed over to them.
Residents say they have lived on the land for approximately 40 to 45 years and possess ownership documents. However, sources say the court issued its ruling in favour of the family of Shahabuddin Delawar, head of the Taliban’s Commission for Contact with Afghan Personalities.
Mansoor Ahmad Hamza, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban’s Supreme Court, previously said the case had been reassessed after a review of documents and court rulings issued under the previous government. He said the review had confirmed that the land had been usurped. According to Hamza, following a seven-month reassessment, an order was issued to enforce the ruling and transfer the land to the claimants.
The Taliban have not yet provided any explanation regarding the fate of the families who have been evicted from their homes. Residents of the area had previously complained about forced evictions, saying that some people had been beaten or detained.
Writer:Roya Stanikzai
