KABUL, Afghanistan — The High Council of Resistance, a political movement, has accused the Taliban of using security as a pretext to “humiliate and insult” Ashura mourners in Afghanistan.
In a statement, the council described the Taliban’s actions towards mourners as “terror and violence,” calling it a “crime against humanity” that strips people of their legitimate freedoms and destroys their psychological security.
“We strongly condemn the humiliation, insults, arrests, and detention of Ashura mourners by the oppressive Taliban,” the council’s statement read.
Citing directives from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the statement noted that the freedom to conduct Ashura ceremonies has been severely restricted, limiting observances to three days and banning Sunni participation.
The council also mentioned that several Shia scholars have signed a commitment imposed by the Taliban, which the council claims lacks any “human or Islamic basis.”
The High Council of Resistance has called on the international community to reject engagement with the “anti-human Taliban” and instead listen to and support the people of Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have prevented Ashura processions in Kabul and other cities, restricting ceremonies to three days. Videos and images from Herat show mourners resisting Taliban efforts to lower their flags and participating in nighttime marches in defiance of the imposed restrictions.
This article provides a detailed account of the tensions and restrictions faced by Ashura mourners under Taliban rule, highlighting the ongoing struggle for religious freedom and human rights in Afghanistan.
