Afghanistan falls 34 places in World Press Freedom Index

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Ariana: Afghanistan moved 34 places down to No. 156 on a 2022 international ranking by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) released on Tuesday. The media watchdog said the Islamic Emirate’s rise to power in Afghanistan has had serious repercussions for the respect of press freedom and the safety of journalists, especially women. It said that 43 percent of Afghan media outlets disappeared in the space of three months after the fall of the previous government. Click here to read more (external link).

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How the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan crushed a restaurant owner’s business, leaving him with nothing but a ‘gloomy future’

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Business Insider: A Kabul restaurant owner has finally closed his business after struggling under Taliban rule for months.  Laziz Mahal was underperforming as many Afghans can’t afford to eat out any more.  With the Taliban in control, the owner said authorities show no support for small businesses. Click here to read more (external link).

Iran accuses US of using Daesh to destablize Afghanistan

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Ariana: Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has accused Washington of using ISIS (Daesh) to create insecurity and a rift among religious and ethnic groups in Afghanistan. Tasnim news agency meanwhile reported that Qalibaf also stated that the IEA had failed to provide security and that he called the creation of an inclusive government with representatives of all ethnic groups in Afghanistan a fundamental need to succeed in ensuring lasting security in the country. Click here to read more (external link).

Unlike the Taliban, today people celebrate Eid-al-Fitr in Panjshir

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Aamaj: Unlike other Islamic countries, Taliban announced Sunday, May 01, 2022, as the first day of Eid-al-Fitr. Taliban claim that they saw the crescent of Shawal (an Arabic month after Ramadan) on Saturday evening, but a number of people were fasting yesterday and celebrate today Monday, May 02, 2022 as the first day of Eid-al-Fitr. A number of people performed Eid prayer in Panjshir today. Click here to read more (external link).

Taliban Murders a Former Soldier in Herat Province

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8am: Sources told Hasht-e Subh that the Taliban have murdered Mohammad Asif Sultani, a former soldier in Herat province. The sources say that Mohammad Asif Sultani was an officer at the former National Security Directorate and served as the commander of a unit in Herat province. Since August 2021, the Taliban rebels have murdered nearly 500 former government affiliates, which is released in a report by the New York Times. Click here to read more (external link).

“Our country is occupied by rulers who cannot govern and ensure security”: Noor

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Atta Mohammad Noor

Aamaj: The leader of Jamiat-e-Islami’s Noor branch, Ata Mohammad Noor, in his message on arrival of Eid-al-Fitr said that Afghanistan is occupied by rulers who are not able to govern, and ensure security. He added that Taliban have offered safe haven in territory of Afghanistan for terrorist groups of neighboring countries. Click here to read more (external link).

Ghani releases Eid message, urges against ‘monopoly’ of power

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Ghani

Ariana: Former Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, who is currently living in exile, said in an Eid ul-Fitr message on Saturday that the current situation in Afghanistan is dangerous and that Afghans need to learn from the past and accept each other. Ghani fled the country on August 15 last year which led to the immediate collapse of the former government. Click here to read more (external link).