Afghans rally for Gaza, call global silence a ‘betrayal’

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Ariana: Following nationwide protests in Afghanistan in support of the people of Gaza, demonstrators stated that remaining silent in the face of the ongoing oppression in Gaza is a clear act of betrayal. They said countries that have chosen to remain silent about these atrocities are complicit in the injustice. After Friday prayers, Afghan protesters from various provinces took to the streets and sharply criticized Arab and Muslim governments, saying their leaders have not taken a single practical step to help the people of Gaza. Click here to read more (external link).

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Tensions among Taliban commanders resurface in Badakhshan: Sources

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Amu: Local sources confirmed on Thursday that tensions among local Taliban commanders have flared in the northeastern province of Badakhshan where similar rifts were also reported previously. The new round of such rifts emerged in Jurm after efforts by senior Taliban commanders to detain a fellow commander of Tajik ethnicity was failed, sources said. The commander had allegedly resisted directives issued by Taliban’s Pashtun-dominated leadership, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. Click here to read more (external link).

Tourists Help Mask the Taliban’s Oppression of Women in Afghanistan

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8am: Women and girls in Afghanistan accuse foreign tourists of whitewashing the Taliban’s image, claiming that these tourists enter the country at the direct invitation of the Taliban. According to these women, foreign tourists, seeking to attract attention and enjoy their travel experiences, deliberately overlook the suffering and deprivation of women stripped of all their human rights. They emphasize that the actual situation of women in Afghanistan is far grimmer than what is portrayed in the media. Several women and girls in Afghanistan, living under the oppressive restrictions imposed by the Taliban, accuse foreign tourists, particularly female tourists, of distorting reality for the sake of enjoyment and personal safety during their travels in Afghanistan.  Click here to read more (external link).

Russia: Western Countries Obstruct War Crimes Investigation in Afghanistan

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Maria Zakharova (file photo)

Tolo News: Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said that Western countries, including the UK, have effectively obstructed investigations into war crimes committed by their military forces in Afghanistan. She added: “Despite public pressure, Western countries have practically delayed the judicial process for crimes committed during the occupation of Afghanistan, let alone compensating the victims’ families. In the case of the UK, a lot of information has recently been released about these horrific events, but there has been no progress in the investigation process.” Click here to read more (external link).

Zakia Khudadadi wins Bronze at Brazil Open

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Zakia Khudadadi (file photo)

Amu: Zakia Khudadadi, a para-taekwondo athlete from Afghanistan, announced on Thursday that she had won a bronze medal at the Brazil Para Taekwondo Open, adding another accolade to her trailblazing international career. “This medal is not just for me,” she wrote in a social media post, “but for all Afghan women who, despite all hardships, are still standing.” Click here to read more (external link).

As US Ends Protected Status For Afghans, Thousands Face Deportation And Persecution

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By RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi and Kian Sharifi
May 29, 2025

The United States has announced it will end the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans, a move that will leave thousands at risk of deportation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) declared on May 12 that TPS for Afghanistan will expire on July 14, with the decision affecting an estimated 9,000 to 12,000 Afghans currently living and working legally in the United States under this program.

However, rights groups and Afghan refugees have condemned the decision, warning that it puts lives in jeopardy and ignores the realities on the ground.

Seeking Safety In The US
The DHS said in its statement that the termination of TPS is based on its assessment that conditions in Afghanistan have “improved sufficiently” and no longer meet the statutory requirements for TPS.

The statement said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem had also determined that permitting Afghan nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is “contrary to the national interest of the United States.”

The department cited national security and fraud concerns, claiming some individuals under TPS are being investigated for threats to public safety and national security.

But Afghans living in the United States under TPS say they will be in danger if they return to Afghanistan.

“It is true that there is relative security, but there are many problems,” an Afghan man who spoke on condition of anonymity told RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi.

“Right now, former government soldiers are being arrested, disappeared, and even killed,” said the man, who lives in Texas with his family of four.

Another Afghan national who moved to the United States four years ago echoed the same sentiment.

“If we are sent back, our lives will be at risk because we worked in the previous government and the current government still wants revenge,” he told Radio Azadi. “We came to the United States for our safety, and now that this program is ending it will create many problems.”

These fears are rooted in the dramatic changes Afghanistan has undergone since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Following the withdrawal of US and NATO troops, Taliban insurgents seized Kabul, toppling the Western-backed Afghan government.

Since then, the Taliban has imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law, rolling back rights and freedoms, especially for women and girls, who are now barred from secondary education and most employment.

Reports from the UN and human rights organizations have documented widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and public floggings, particularly targeting former government officials, security personnel, and dissenters.

‘Unconscionable’ To Deport Afghans

Human rights organizations such as Human Rights First, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), World Relief, and others have condemned the move, warning it puts thousands of Afghans at risk of deportation to a country where they could face persecution, torture, or even execution under Taliban rule.

“For the Trump administration to claim that conditions in Afghanistan have improved enough to justify returning people is simply unconscionable and divorced from reality,” said Eleanor Acer, senior director of global humanitarian protection at Human Rights First.

Unless a court intervenes, the termination of TPS for Afghans will proceed as scheduled in July, leaving thousands facing an uncertain — and potentially dangerous — future under Taliban rule.

“People with TPS are valuable members of American communities, schools, and workplaces,” IRC wrote in a statement. “We urgently call on the US government to reconsider this harmful policy change and maintain this life-saving humanitarian protection for people from Afghanistan.”

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.

Taliban Bans Table Football In Daikundi, Citing Idolatry Concerns

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Afghanistan International: The Taliban have prohibited table football in Daikundi province, local sources told Afghanistan International. The group claims the miniature player figures in the game resemble idols, which they say is forbidden in Islam. On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, sources reported that the Taliban instructed table football clubs to remove the heads of the player figures to continue the game. Failure to comply will result in a complete ban. Click here to read more (external link).