8am: This Uzbek-affiliated powerful commander is arrested for the accusation of his cooperation with ISKP. There are reports that Uzbek and Tajik-affiliated Taliban soldiers are escaping the battleground in the northern region. They are not fighting and in most cases, they are surrendering to National Resistance Forces led by Ahmad Massoud against Taliban. Click here to read more (external link).
BBC News Bulletins Taken Off-Air in Afghanistan After Taliban Ruling
PA: The BBC’s TV news bulletins have been taken off-air in Afghanistan after the Taliban “ordered our TV partners to remove international broadcasters from their airwaves”. On Sunday, the BBC announced its TV news bulletin in Pashto, Persian and Uzbek had been taken off-air in Afghanistan following a Taliban order. Click here to read more (external link).
Tolo News in Dari – March 27, 2022
Taliban Gender-Segregates Kabul Fun Parks, Compounding Cutoffs For Girls And Women
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
March 27, 2022
A part of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan tasked with enforcing adherence to strict Islamic fundamentalism has ordered all amusement parks in the capital to be segregated by gender.
The limit on such mixing at fun parks will deepen concerns for girls’ and women’s rights as it follows a last-minute reversal last week that prevented Afghan girls from returning to reopened schools.
The hard-line Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice on March 27 ordered that all Kabul venues with rides and games should be opened to women and girls from Sundays through Tuesdays and to boys and men on Wednesdays through Saturdays.
There is no exception for families on the ministry’s timetable.
UN and other international observers have repeatedly warned of abuses under the seven-month-old regime of girls and women, including draconian limits on their movement, freedom to work or travel, or ability to carry out even the simplest daily aspects of public life.
“The Taliban regime is now officially a gender apartheid authoritarian police state,” Tamim Asey, executive chairman of the Institute of War and Peace Studies and the Council on Foreign Relations of Afghanistan, tweeted after the parks ban was announced, adding, “The regime while a de facto reality…merits no recognition and legitimacy.”
On March 23, Taliban officials extended a nationwide ban on girls’ education beyond sixth grade that was imposed after the militants took over most of the country as U.S.-led international troops withdrew and the UN-backed government in Kabul fled.
Young Afghans expressed despair and frustration after many of the more than 1 million girls prepared to return to school were turned away, in many cases when they approached school gates.
The sudden announcement to keep girls out of class sparked protests by teachers, students, and women’s rights activists in the capital despite brutal Taliban crackdowns on previous demonstrations.
They chanted, “Open the schools!” and demanded that women be allowed to work.
International organizations and world governments called on the Taliban to reconsider its decision immediately.
The United States’ special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, said ensuring access to education was among U.S. demands of the Taliban.
U.S. officials abruptly canceled scheduled meetings with Taliban representatives in Doha after the school reversal on girls’ attendance.
With reporting by dpa, RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi, and Bakhtar
Copyright (c) 2022. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
Rashid Khan named one of five players to watch during this year’s IPL
Rashid Khan
Ariana: On Sunday, AFP Sport highlighted the five players to watch in the two-month extravaganza. Among the five is Afghan cricketing hero, Rashid Khan, who continues to make his country proud. Click here to read more (external link).
Herat Girls Over 6th Grade Now Banned From School
Tolo News: Female students in Herat in grades 7-12, who were allowed to participate in classes, were told to stay home as the Islamic Emirate closed secondary and high schools for the girls across Afghanistan. Herat was the only province where female students above the 6th grade were allowed to go to schools for the first and second day of the school year, but the schools’ doors were closed for them on daday-three. Click here to read more (external link).
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Tuberculosis in Badakhshan: More than 1,000 People Infected with TB Since Last Year
8am: On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day, local authorities of Badakhshan in Public Health Department have reported that nearly 1,036 people were infected with tuberculosis in the province last year. It is estimated that about 9 million people in poor countries are being infected with tuberculosis each year and Afghanistan is one of those countries with a high rate of infection. Click here to read more (external link).
Department of Virtue Promotion in Balkh: Bans Entrance of Students to Balkh University with Smartphones
8am: The Department of Virtue Promotion in Balkh province has instructed the faculties of Balkh University to not permit students to enter the university with smartphones. According to the announcement, the violators will be punished in accordance with Sharia law. Click here to read more (external link).
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Local Sources: Taliban Brutally Tortures and Kills a Former Afghanistan Police Officer in Helmand Province
8am: Taliban militants have brutally tortured and murdered a former government police officer named Shir Mohammad in Helmand province. Local sources have confirmed that the victim had served in eight-security district of Lashkar Gah city during the former government. Click here to read more (external link).
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