Taliban Governor in Yangi Qala District, Takhar Province Accused of Manipulating Humanitarian Aid: Local Reports
8am: Shamsuddin Hemayoun, the governor of the Yangi Qala district in Takhar province, stands accused of manipulating a substantial quantity of humanitarian aid, including approximately 160 bags of chemical fertilizers and improved wheat. This aid was generously provided by the “Swedish Committee for Afghanistan” to cater to the needs of vulnerable locals and struggling farmers in the province. Sources who spoke with Hasht-e Subh on Tuesday, August 29, have revealed that this high-ranking Taliban official orchestrated the alleged manipulation of humanitarian assistance roughly a week ago. Click here to read more (external link).
Truck carrying figs from Afghanistan set on fire in Balochistan, Pakistan
Ariana: The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) said on Tuesday that a truckload of figs worth $300,000 was set on fire in Loralai region of Balochistan in Pakistan. Khan Jan Alokozay, Deputy Head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), confirmed the incident and told Ariana News that the issue will harm transit relations between the two countries. Alokozay said the government of Pakistan should ensure the security of goods transiting the country. He also said the ACCI has informed the Pakistani authorities about the incident. Alokozay said this is the third time an incident of this nature has occurred. Click here to read more (external link).
Report: ‘Disturbing Surge’ in Afghan Female Suicides, Attempted Suicides
VOA News
August 28, 2023
There has been a “disturbing surge” in the number of female suicides and attempted female suicides in Afghanistan since the Taliban took control in 2021, according to a report by British newspaper The Guardian.
The Taliban government has not published any statistics on the phenomenon and has forbidden health care workers from sharing the numbers, the newspaper said. However, the report said health care providers agreed to privately share the information from August 2021 to August 2022 “to highlight an urgent public health crisis” that has made Afghanistan one of the few locations in the world where more women than men kill themselves.
During the year-long period, “females made up more than three-quarter of recorded suicide deaths and treated survivors,” The Guardian reported.
Life for women in Afghanistan has become extremely restrictive and health care providers and human rights activists “have raised the alarm” about the staggering suicide surge among Afghanistan’s women.
Recently, the Taliban began barring women from a national park because they were not wearing their headscarves correctly. The Taliban have already barred women from continuing their education after elementary school, prohibited them from most work and even ordered the closure of beauty salons.
“We are witnessing a moment where growing numbers of women and girls see death as preferable to living under the current circumstances,” Alison Davidian, the country representative for U.N. Women, told The Guardian.
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Tolo News in Dari – August 28, 2023
Rising Corruption Cases: What Unfolds Within The Taliban Municipalities?
8am: Amidst the widespread exposure of moral corruption within Taliban leadership, sources report instances of extensive administrative and moral misconduct by municipal officials associated with the group in certain provinces and districts. According to information, the Taliban-appointed mayor in Sar-e pol province was arrested during the current year due to bribery allegations. He was apprehended at the provincial building, beaten, and subsequently detained. Similarly, the mayor of Aybak City of the Taliban has been apprehended for the sale of government land and accepting bribes from housing developers in Samangan province. He remains incarcerated. Other sources suggest that the Taliban mayor in the province of Ghazni is involved in profiting from unauthorized home constructions. He has been accused of renting out a road to nomads in exchange for hefty sums for his benefits. Previously, a Taliban-appointed mayor in Aliabad city of Kunduz province was detained by the Taliban intelligence agency for accepting bribes from the public and was severely physically beaten. Additionally, this agency has apprehended the mayor of the Burka district of Baghlan province for alleged sexual assault on a woman. It is noteworthy that the Taliban has consistently emphasized its commitment to eradicating corruption within its controlled administrations, presenting it as an accomplishment. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban’s Brand of Justice: Why Do Sexual Offenders Escape Prosecution?
8am: In a Taliban-ruled class-based society, suffering, death, hunger, and catastrophe are intensified compared to other societies. Ethnopolitics exacerbates the existing injustices, rendering those unrelated to the Taliban’s favored tribe more vulnerable than their Taliban-affiliated counterparts. Consequently, the Taliban’s notion of justice is not only marred by its inherent defects but is also deeply entrenched in ethnic discrimination. Presently, as discussions of sexual scandals involving Taliban members permeate society, numerous city dwellers contend that a Taliban official from their own tribe will escape punitive measures, whereas those from other ethnic groups will endure severe repercussions. The ethnic bias within the Taliban’s governance is so blatant that even the common populace, both urban and rural, has discerned its presence. Click here to read more (external link).
Second round of Polio Vaccination campaign launched in 6 provinces of Afghanistan
Khaama: The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the second round of the Polio Vaccine Campaign for children has commenced in six provinces of Afghanistan. The organization released a statement on its website on Monday, saying that this campaign has been initiated in five provinces in the northern region and one in the southern region. The organization has requested the public to cooperate with vaccinators to ensure children’s vaccination. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the last remaining countries where children are still affected by the polio virus. Click here to read more (external link).
Cricket fans shocked at Naveen’s exclusion from Asia Cup squad
Naveen ul-Haq
Ariana: Cricket fans were shocked on Sunday when the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) unveiled the Asia Cup 2023 squad – minus star pacer, Naveen ul-Haq. After his snub by the ACB, Naveen took to social media to publish a cryptic post. He posted a selfie across his social media profiles and captioned it: “No matter how well your eyes adjust to darkness, you’ll never mistake it for light.” Cricket experts have however spoken out about the move and say his aggression and game-changing abilities could have been a great addition to the Afghanistan side. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban bans women from Band-e-Amir visits amid global outcry
Khaama: The Taliban administration, disregarding the international outrage stemming from the “oppressive” restrictions imposed on the lives, work, and education of women in Afghanistan, has continued to intensify these limitations. In the latest instance, as per the directive of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the Taliban, women are not allowed to visit Band-e-Amir’s attractions. Khalid Hanafi, the acting Minister of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the Taliban administration, during his visit to the Bamyan province on Saturday, held discussions with religious scholars. He conveyed that until the formulation of “principles,” women are not allowed to visit Band-e Amir National Park. Click here to read more (external link).
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