Mehr News Agency: Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, Zahra Ershadi expressed concern over the reports on the resurgence of ISIL-affiliated terrorist groups in Afghanistan. “The de-facto authorities must commit to fighting terrorism and ensure to take all appropriate steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises against any intrusion or damage and prevent attacks on diplomatic premises, agents, and consular officers,” she said. “Afghanistan must no longer serve as a haven for terrorist groups like ISIL and al-Qaeda,” she added. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – September 29, 2022
Taliban Forbids Opium Cultivation, but Charges Tithes on Products
Taliban militants (file photo)
8am: The name and history of Taliban creation are associated with opium and drug trafficking, along with the implementation of strict and extreme religious practices. This spring, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of this group, issued an order prohibiting the cultivation, production, purchase, and sale of narcotics. But the findings of Hasht-e Subh Daily show that the local officials of the Taliban in the provinces have not prevented poppy cultivation at all, and they have collected tithes from the poppy harvest this year. Click here to read more (external link).
Taliban Disrupt Afghan Women’s Rally Supporting Iran Protests
Ayaz Gul
VOA News
September 29, 2022
ISLAMABAD — A group of women in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, Thursday staged what was the first demonstration in support of protests in Iran before being forcefully dispersed by Taliban authorities.
The rally comes as nationwide protests continued in the neighboring country over the death of a young woman, Masha Amini, while in detention by morality police in Tehran for failing to properly cover her hair with a hijab.
Witnesses in Kabul said that about 30 female activists in headscarves gathered outside the Iranian embassy chanting, “Women, life, freedom” — slogans used during Iranian protests. They also held banners that read, “Iran has risen. Now it’s our turn!” and “From Kabul to Iran say no to dictatorship!”
Taliban security forces snatched and tore the banners before firing in the air to disperse the rally. Organizers later said the demonstration was held to show “support and solidarity” with the Iranian people and the women in Afghanistan.
“We are sure that one day, our people will rise in the same way as the Iranian people,” said a protester who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Since returning to power a year ago, the Islamist Taliban have instructed women to cover their faces in public and told many female public sector employees to stay home. The group’s vice and virtue ministry also requires women not to undertake long road trips unless accompanied by a close male relative.
The Taliban have barred teenage girls in Afghanistan from attending secondary school education beyond grade six.
The restrictions have outraged activists and students and have triggered relentless international calls for the Taliban to ease them if they want their government to be formally recognized.
The Islamist rulers maintain the restrictions are in line with Afghan culture and Islamic principles.
The protests in Iran have spread to at least 80 cities and towns. Security police have used tear gas, clubs and, in some cases, live ammunition to quell the protests calling for the end to the Islamic establishment’s more than four decades in power.
Iranian state media said 41 people, including members of the police and a pro-government militia, have been killed during the protests, although Iranian human rights groups have reported a higher toll.
Amini, 22, was arrested September 13 and died three days later in a hospital after falling into a coma. Her family filed a complaint this week against the Iranian police officers who arrested her, calling for a full investigation.
The Iranian police have denied responsibility for Amini’s death.
Some information in this report came from Agence France-Presse.
Taliban’s Resistance Against Enlightenment and Education Continue
8am: The officials of the Department of Virtue Promotion of the Taliban in Ghazni have closed an English language training center due to a girl’s presence in the boys’ class. Sources said that the Taliban agents, during their surveillance of Ghazni city, on Wednesday, September 6, sealed this educational center in the second security district of Ghazni city. Click here to read more (external link).
More than 10,000 Afghan refugees return home in past week
Ariana: The [Taliban] Ministry of Repatriation and Refugees (MoRR) says in the past week, more than 10,000 Afghan migrants returned to the country from neighboring countries. Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the MoRR, said Thursday that most of the returnees were those who traveled illegally to neighboring countries. In the past few months, some countries have reportedly treated Afghan immigrants inappropriately and forcibly deported them to Afghanistan. Click here to read more (external link).
Related
Taliban Removes Persian Language from Herat University’s Signboard and Sanaie Weekly in Ghazni
8am: In continuation of the Taliban’s recent anti-Persian initiatives, the group has removed the word “Danishgah = University” from the Signboard of Herat University in Herat province. On Wednesday, September 28, local sources talking to Hasht-e Subh said that the Taliban group has installed a new signboard with the Pashtu version of “Herat Pohantoon = Herat University” and has removed the Persian title. Meanwhile, local sources in Ghazni have reported a similar case with Sanaie Weekly which used to be published with mixed content of Persian and Pashtu, now the recent version of this publication is pure Pashto with no Persian content while the majority of the audience is Persian speakers. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – September 28, 2022
Taliban and Russia Agree to ‘Special Discount’ on Purchase of Gas, Oil, and Wheat
Khaama: According to Abdul Salam Jawad Akhundzada, a spokesman for the Taliban Ministry of Commerce and Industry, products including gasoline, diesel, gas, and wheat will be purchased at a “special discount” in Russian currency. According to the agreement, Russia will supply a million tons of petrol, one million tons of diesel, 500,000 tons of liquefied gas, and two million tons of wheat to Afghanistan, said the Taliban official… Click here to read more (external link).
Extortion on Country Highways by Taliban Raises Tension for Drivers
Taliban militant (file photo)
8am: Complaints about overtaxing, overcharging, and extortion of Taliban militants under the name of transportation taxes are raised while there have already been reports about the takeover of citizens’ private businesses by the Taliban, disorder in the transportation sector, and the Taliban’s failure to meet the necessary conditions for registering cars and drivers on the roads. According to reports, after taking over private transportation agencies in Herat province, the Taliban told the owners of these transportation agencies; Before now, you were making money from this business, and now it’s our turn. Click here to read more (external link).