A leading Afghan academic who made public appearances criticising the Taliban was arrested in Kabul, prompting outcry.??

Kabul University law professor Faizullah Jalal was reportedly detained by members of Afghanistan¡¯s ruling regime on 8 January after a Twitter account purporting to be him made comments insulting Taliban leaders on social media. ?

Professor Jalal, who teaches at one of the country¡¯s top institutions, was already under scrutiny for having appeared in numerous interviews since the Taliban took power after the fall of the US-backed government in August. In them, he criticised the regime and the country¡¯s deteriorating financial situation.

His arrest comes amid a crackdown on academic freedom and freedom of speech in Afghanistan, with staff and students afraid to return to campuses there.

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Afghan students previously told?Times ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø?that education there has become untenable. Those few who were able to resume attending courses said that classrooms are at a fraction of their capacity since?the Taliban takeover. Thousands of students ¨C especially women ¨C have turned to online education.

The country also faces a worsening humanitarian crisis, with reports of already widespread food shortages and more cold winter months ahead. But Afghanistan¡¯s current government has shown little tolerance for criticism of its rule.

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A spokesman for the Taliban reportedly told the news site??that Professor Jalal¡¯s arrest was meant to be an example ¡°so that others don¡¯t make similar senseless comments in the name of being a professor or scholar that harm the dignity of others¡±.

In images and videos shared on social media, women in Kabul could be seen protesting the arrest, which is notable for its public nature and given Professor Jalal¡¯s prominent position. In 2004, the academic¡¯s wife ran against former president Hamid Karzai, becoming Afghanistan¡¯s first woman candidate for the presidency.

The human rights organisation Amnesty International condemned the arrest and called on the Taliban to ¡°immediately and unconditionally release¡± Professor Jalal.

pola.lem@timeshighereducation.com