KABUL - While the 26th June is Marked as International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) says prisoners were still being tortured in the county's jails.
Earlier the United Nations said that progress had been made to curb torture in Afghan jails, but claimed were still are cases of cruelty against prisoners.
Murtaza Nekzad is a victim. He was in jail for five years during the civil war and was subjected to constant torture.
"I had a stroke last year because of the impact of psychological issues stemming from difficulties of the time. I have get a lot of torture injuries to my head," victim Murtaza Nekzad said.
"Regrettably the government of Afghanistan has not made significant progress in ending torture. Perpetrators are not brought to justice." AIHRC spokesman Rafiullah Bedar said. Torture has also left a major impact on his psychological health.
"There was severe torture during the era of the Taliban regime as well as at the time of the Mujahedeen government," political analyst Mia Gul Khalid said.
Afghanistan signed International Convention Against Torture in 1985. However systematic torture continued in the country despite the country having signed the UN convention.
"They were torturing us, forcing us to stay awake, I remember that for one week we were kept awake all the time," Khalid said.
According to statistics of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) 278 detainees out of 790 detainees were tortured in Afghan jails. The UNAMA conducted investigations during 2013 and 2014 and assessed 128 detention centers.
On 12 December 1997, by resolution 52/149, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, with a view to the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, (resolution 39/46), annex, which entered into force on 26 June 1987.(Tolonews)