A protest by money changers outside the Taliban governor’s office in Herat was forcibly ended by Taliban forces on Tuesday, according to local sources. The protest was organized in response to the stringent conditions imposed on their operations.
Sources indicate that the Taliban used physical force to disperse the protesters. Despite the violence, the money changers have urged their colleagues to continue protesting.
Reports suggest that the Taliban’s crackdown on exchange shops continued even after the protest. The Taliban have already closed nearly 80 percent of the exchange shops in Herat’s money exchange market.
Members of the Money Changers Union report that the Taliban-controlled central bank demands over 6.5 million Afghanis as a guarantee and an additional 5 million Afghanis in a bank statement for issuing money exchange licenses.
According to some money changers, approximately 500 exchange shops in Herat have ceased operations due to these stringent requirements.
