KHOST — Taliban authorities in the southeastern province of Khost forced schoolchildren to participate in rallies in support of Gaza in the province, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The rallies, held on Friday, May 30, amid growing regional expressions of solidarity with Palestinians, were organized by the Taliban-run Directorate of Education.
Sources told Amu that children as young as six were taken out of classrooms during school hours and made to march under the heat while chanting political slogans.
Students from grades one through six were removed from primary schools across the province and directed to take part in the demonstrations, the sources said. Parents expressed outrage, saying their children were sent to school to learn—not to be used for political messaging.
“We send our children to school for education and a better future, not to serve political interests,” one parent said.
Photographs and videos from the rallies show young students holding placards and chanting slogans against Israel and the United States under the supervision of local Taliban officials.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from families and rights advocates, especially as it comes amid a broader crackdown by the Taliban on domestic protests. The group has long prohibited public demonstrations on national issues and has labeled such actions as “un-Islamic.” Yet, in recent days, Taliban officials themselves have organized and led public rallies to condemn Israeli military operations in Gaza.
On Friday, the Taliban orchestrated similar demonstrations in Kabul and other provinces, where participants burned Israeli flags and chanted anti-Western slogans. Taliban leaders had earlier called on mosque imams and residents to join those rallies.
While such protests appear aimed at projecting solidarity with Palestinians, critics argue the Taliban are exploiting the issue to deflect from their domestic restrictions—particularly on freedoms of assembly, expression, and education.
