8am: Following the release of a video showing the severe beating of two elderly men by Taliban fighters, the Human Rights Activists Union (HRAU) says the footage once again reveals the deeply rooted and systematic nature of Taliban violence. In a statement issued on Monday, May 18, the HRAU said that scenes of attacks on civilians with “sticks, fists, and kicks” by a group of armed men demonstrate a level of brutality that crosses all moral, legal, and human boundaries. According to the statement, reports and visible evidence suggest that the attack may be linked to land grabbing, forced displacement, or intimidation of civilians. It added that similar incidents have previously been reported, including videos of men and women being beaten and tortured by Taliban fighters. Click here to read more (external link).