Afghanistan's powerful intelligence agency Tuesday denied reports of a massive pedophile ring operating in the country's schools, accusing the activists who broke the story of threatening public order.
The National Directorate of Security (NDS) said both Musa Mahmudi and Ehsanullah Hamidi were being held in custody, a day after Amnesty International called for their immediate release.
"They have been shifted to a safe place due to security threats against them and also to seek clarification over the serious crimes mentioned in Mr. Mahmudi's report," the NDS said in a statement.
Mahmudi, a youth social worker, told Britain's Guardian newspaper this month that at least 546 boys from six schools in Logar province had been allegedly abused by a paedophile ring involving teachers and local officials.
Some alleged victims went on to be murdered, the newspaper reported, adding that rights campaigners had uncovered more than 100 videos of the abuse.
The allegations have sparked outrage across Afghanistan.
But the NDS said the claims were part of a scheme aimed at securing asylum in a foreign country, blasting the report as "baseless" and predicated on "unfounded allegations."
"Such reports can disturb the public opinion about the educational environment, and can deprive children from educational opportunities," the NDS added.
The Afghan spy agency also released a video of Mahmudi appearing to retract his account. However, it was not clear if he was speaking under duress.
Amnesty on Tuesday released text messages sent by Mahmudi before he was taken into custody, saying "the NDS is trying to arrest me and put all the blame on me".
Ehsanullah Hamidi's role in revealing the scandal was not immediately clear and he was not referenced in the Guardian story.
Parts of Afghanistan still tolerate the practice of bacha bazi, or "boy play", where older men force boys to dress up as women and often sexually exploit them.
AFP
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