A group of Afghan journalists and civil rights activists gathered in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The protesters, who braved the scorching heat of the Pakistani capital, chanted slogans against the Taliban and the United States, which they accused of supporting the terrorist group.
“Warning, Warning! Americans, stop neglecting the situation; the Taliban commits crimes, and America supports them,” one protester shouted.
In an Interview with Kausar News Agency, Younus Qari Zada said that the living conditions of journalists in Afghanistan had been dire since the Taliban takeover. “Many journalists across Afghanistan have been tortured and imprisoned by the Taliban terrorist group, and this trend continues,” he said.
Munisa Mubariz, a women’s rights activist, said that the international community should not view Afghanistan’s issues through a political lens but a human and human rights lens. “Unfortunately, the world has ignored the crimes of the Taliban and is engaged in shameful deals with them,” she said.
The protesters also noted that the world’s indifference towards the Taliban had allowed them to impose severe restrictions on Afghan women daily.
“The Taliban have banned women from working, going to school, and even leaving their homes without a male escort,” Mobarz said. “This is a clear violation of human rights.”
The protest rally comes as the Taliban regime faces increasing international pressure. The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on the Taliban, and the United Nations has warned that the group’s actions could lead to a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
The protesters called on the international community to continue to pressure the Taliban to respect human rights and to allow Afghans to live in freedom.
“We are tired of oppression,” one protester said. “We want justice.”
