The detention of Faizullah Jalal, a university professor, has drawn reactions from inside Afghanistan and beyond. The Islamic Emirate officials said that Faizullah Jalal was arrested over statements he made on social media which were against the current government and which spread bigotry.

“He was breaking down the system and playing with the dignity of people, and he has connections with some groups and bands that are disrupting security. He has been arrested by intelligence to answer for whatever he did,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate.

The relatives of Faizullah Jalal said that he was arrested after fake accounts on social media used Jalal’s name, posting (writing) against the Islamic Emirate. They added that his family has not heard updates about his health since Saturday.

“He was in Afghanistan for the last two decades, he never was abroad. He does not have connections with any group. He has always focused on how to serve his students and country,” said Sodaba, a relative of Fizullah Jalal.

“I ask the Emirate to release my uncle and I hope they do not physically torture him because he could not tolerate it,” said Sara, Jalal’s niece.

Meanwhile, a group of civil society activists on Sunday took to the streets to protest against the detention of Faizullah Jalal, saying Jalal has to be released soon.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemned the detention of the Afghan professor and asked for his immediate release.

Faizullah Jalal, Afghan university lecturer, was arrested on Saturday by the Islamic Emirate’s intelligence for making controversial comments on social media against the current system.

In a separate report, Khaja Khalil Fetri, former director of Pajhwok News Agency, was released in Mazar-e-Sharif where he arrested by intelligence forces of the Islamic Emirate about a month ago.