Afghan journalists tell of Taliban beatings after covering protests
Issued on: 09/09/2021 -
Kabul rallies called off after Taliban outlaws protestsIssued on: 09/09/2021 -
Afghan journalists Nematullah Naqdi and Taqi Daryabi show their wounds after being released from Taliban custody
Wakil KOHSAR AFP
Kabul (AFP)
Two Afghan journalists were left with ugly welts and bruises after being beaten and detained for hours by Taliban fighters for covering a protest in the Afghan capital.
The pair were picked up at a demonstration on Wednesday and taken to a police station in the capital, where they say they were punched and beaten with batons, electrical cables and whips after being accused of organising the protest.
"One of the Taliban put his foot on my head, crushed my face against the concrete. They kicked me in the head... I thought they were going to kill me," photographer Nematullah Naqdi told AFP.
Despite promises of a more inclusive regime, the Taliban have moved to snuff out mushrooming opposition against their rule.
On Wednesday night they declared demonstrations illegal unless permission had been granted by the justice ministry.
Naqdi and his colleague Taqi Daryabi, a reporter, who both work for Etilaat Roz (Information Daily) had been assigned to cover a small protest in front of a police station in Kabul by women demanding the right to work and education.
Naqdi said he was accosted by a Taliban fighter as soon as he started taking pictures.
"They told me 'You cannot film'," he said.
"They arrested all those who were filming and took their phones," he told AFP.
Kabul (AFP)
Two Afghan journalists were left with ugly welts and bruises after being beaten and detained for hours by Taliban fighters for covering a protest in the Afghan capital.
The pair were picked up at a demonstration on Wednesday and taken to a police station in the capital, where they say they were punched and beaten with batons, electrical cables and whips after being accused of organising the protest.
"One of the Taliban put his foot on my head, crushed my face against the concrete. They kicked me in the head... I thought they were going to kill me," photographer Nematullah Naqdi told AFP.
Despite promises of a more inclusive regime, the Taliban have moved to snuff out mushrooming opposition against their rule.
On Wednesday night they declared demonstrations illegal unless permission had been granted by the justice ministry.
Naqdi and his colleague Taqi Daryabi, a reporter, who both work for Etilaat Roz (Information Daily) had been assigned to cover a small protest in front of a police station in Kabul by women demanding the right to work and education.
Naqdi said he was accosted by a Taliban fighter as soon as he started taking pictures.
"They told me 'You cannot film'," he said.
"They arrested all those who were filming and took their phones," he told AFP.
Naqdi and Daryabi say they were beaten and detained for hours by Taliban fighters for covering a women's protest in Kabul
Wakil KOHSAR AFP
Naqdi said the Taliban tried to grab his camera, but he managed to hand it to someone in the crowd.
Three Taliban fighters caught him, however, and took him to the police station where the beatings started.
Taliban officials have not responded to repeated requests for comment from AFP.
- 'They see us as enemies' -
"The Taliban started insulting me, kicking me," said Naqdi, adding that he was accused of being the organiser of the rally.
Naqdi said the Taliban tried to grab his camera, but he managed to hand it to someone in the crowd.
Three Taliban fighters caught him, however, and took him to the police station where the beatings started.
Taliban officials have not responded to repeated requests for comment from AFP.
- 'They see us as enemies' -
"The Taliban started insulting me, kicking me," said Naqdi, adding that he was accused of being the organiser of the rally.
The Taliban have claimed they will uphold press freedoms -- in line with unspecified Islamic principles -- although journalists are increasingly being harassed covering protests across the country
Wakil KOHSAR AFP
He asked why he was being beaten, only to be told: "You are lucky you weren't beheaded".
Naqdi was eventually taken to a crowded cell where he found his colleague, Daryabi, who had also been arrested and beaten.
"We were in so much pain that we couldn't move," Daryabi said.
A few hours later the pair were released without explanation -- sent on their way with a string of insults.
"They see us as enemies," Taqi said.
The Taliban have claimed they will uphold press freedoms -- in line with unspecified Islamic principles -- although journalists are increasingly being harassed covering protests across the country.
In recent days, dozens of journalists have reported being beaten, detained or prevented from covering the protests, a show of resistance unthinkable under the Taliban's last regime in the 1990s.
Most are Afghan journalists, whom the Taliban harass more than the foreign media.
He asked why he was being beaten, only to be told: "You are lucky you weren't beheaded".
Naqdi was eventually taken to a crowded cell where he found his colleague, Daryabi, who had also been arrested and beaten.
"We were in so much pain that we couldn't move," Daryabi said.
A few hours later the pair were released without explanation -- sent on their way with a string of insults.
"They see us as enemies," Taqi said.
The Taliban have claimed they will uphold press freedoms -- in line with unspecified Islamic principles -- although journalists are increasingly being harassed covering protests across the country.
In recent days, dozens of journalists have reported being beaten, detained or prevented from covering the protests, a show of resistance unthinkable under the Taliban's last regime in the 1990s.
Most are Afghan journalists, whom the Taliban harass more than the foreign media.
The men say they were punched and beaten with batons, electrical cables and whips after being accused of organising the protest
Wakil KOHSAR AFP
The protests are proving an early test for the Taliban, who after taking power on August 15 promised a more tolerant rule and to work for "the peace and prosperity of the country".
Zaki Daryabi, chief of the Etilaat Roz newspaper, said the Taliban's words rang hollow.
"This official speech is totally different from the reality that can be observed on the ground," he told AFP.
The protests are proving an early test for the Taliban, who after taking power on August 15 promised a more tolerant rule and to work for "the peace and prosperity of the country".
Zaki Daryabi, chief of the Etilaat Roz newspaper, said the Taliban's words rang hollow.
"This official speech is totally different from the reality that can be observed on the ground," he told AFP.
Issued on: 09/09/2021 -
Taliban fighters holding the group's flag stand guard along a road in Kabul
WAKIL KOHSAR AFP
Kabul (AFP)
Protest organisers cancelled rallies in Kabul on Thursday after the Taliban effectively banned demonstrations, warning violators "will face severe legal action".
Earlier this week armed fighters dispersed hundreds of protesters in cities across Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, Faizabad in the northeast and in Herat in the west, where two people were shot dead.
Late Wednesday, the Taliban moved to snuff out any further civil unrest, saying protests would need prior authorisation from the justice ministry, adding "for the time being" no demonstrations were allowed.
There was a noticeably stronger Taliban presence on the streets of Kabul on Thursday morning as armed fighters -- including special forces in military fatigues -- stood guard on street corners and manned checkpoints, according to AFP journalists.
An organiser of a protest outside the Pakistan embassy -- where gunmen sprayed shots into the air on Tuesday to disperse a rally -- told AFP on Thursday it had been cancelled because of the overnight ban.
At the site of another planned protest in the city, there were no signs of a demonstration.
- Promises of inclusion -
A Taliban interim government, drawn exclusively from loyalist ranks, formally began work this week with established hardliners in all key posts and no women -– despite previous promises of an inclusive administration for all Afghans.
Tuesday night's announcement of the cabinet was a key step in the Taliban's consolidation of power, following a stunning military victory that saw them oust the US-backed administration on August 15.
Kabul (AFP)
Protest organisers cancelled rallies in Kabul on Thursday after the Taliban effectively banned demonstrations, warning violators "will face severe legal action".
Earlier this week armed fighters dispersed hundreds of protesters in cities across Afghanistan, including the capital Kabul, Faizabad in the northeast and in Herat in the west, where two people were shot dead.
Late Wednesday, the Taliban moved to snuff out any further civil unrest, saying protests would need prior authorisation from the justice ministry, adding "for the time being" no demonstrations were allowed.
There was a noticeably stronger Taliban presence on the streets of Kabul on Thursday morning as armed fighters -- including special forces in military fatigues -- stood guard on street corners and manned checkpoints, according to AFP journalists.
An organiser of a protest outside the Pakistan embassy -- where gunmen sprayed shots into the air on Tuesday to disperse a rally -- told AFP on Thursday it had been cancelled because of the overnight ban.
At the site of another planned protest in the city, there were no signs of a demonstration.
- Promises of inclusion -
A Taliban interim government, drawn exclusively from loyalist ranks, formally began work this week with established hardliners in all key posts and no women -– despite previous promises of an inclusive administration for all Afghans.
Tuesday night's announcement of the cabinet was a key step in the Taliban's consolidation of power, following a stunning military victory that saw them oust the US-backed administration on August 15.
As the Taliban transition from militant force to governing power, they face a growing number of protests against their rule
Hoshang Hashimi AFP
All the top positions were handed to key leaders from the movement and in particular the Haqqani network -- the most violent Taliban faction, known for devastating attacks.
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund -- a senior minister during the notorious Taliban regime of 1996 to 2001 -- was appointed interim prime minister.
All the top positions were handed to key leaders from the movement and in particular the Haqqani network -- the most violent Taliban faction, known for devastating attacks.
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund -- a senior minister during the notorious Taliban regime of 1996 to 2001 -- was appointed interim prime minister.
Afghanistan's new leadership John SAEKI AFP
Mullah Yaqoob, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named defence minister, while the position of interior minister was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Haqqani network leader.
Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, who oversaw the signing of the US withdrawal agreement in 2020, was appointed deputy prime minister.
The feared Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice -- previously responsible for arresting and punishing people for failing to implement the movement's restrictive interpretation of sharia -- is being reinstated.
Even as the Taliban consolidate power, they face a monumental task in ruling Afghanistan, which is wracked with economic woes and security challenges -- including from the Islamic State group's local chapter.
Mullah Yaqoob, the son of the Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, was named defence minister, while the position of interior minister was given to Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Haqqani network leader.
Taliban co-founder Abdul Ghani Baradar, who oversaw the signing of the US withdrawal agreement in 2020, was appointed deputy prime minister.
The feared Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice -- previously responsible for arresting and punishing people for failing to implement the movement's restrictive interpretation of sharia -- is being reinstated.
Even as the Taliban consolidate power, they face a monumental task in ruling Afghanistan, which is wracked with economic woes and security challenges -- including from the Islamic State group's local chapter.
A member of the Taliban Fateh, a "special forces" unit, stands guard atop a vehicle outside the US embassy in Kabul Aamir QURESHI AFP
- Legitimacy must be 'earned' -
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said any international legitimacy for the Taliban government would have to be "earned", after leading a 20-nation virtual meeting on the Afghan crisis.
In Germany, Blinken said the ministerial talks were the "starting point for international coordination" on dealing with the Taliban.
Among the countries in the virtual meeting were European allies and historic Taliban backer Pakistan.
"The Taliban seek international legitimacy. Any legitimacy -- any support -- will have to be earned," Blinken told reporters.
The European Union said the "caretaker" government failed to honour previous vows of inclusion.
China meanwhile said it welcomed the end of "three weeks of anarchy", adding it "attaches great importance" to the announcement of an interim government.
Former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country as the Taliban entered Kabul, apologised Wednesday to the Afghan people for how his rule ended.
And on Thursday Cricket Australia said it would cancel a historic maiden Test match against Afghanistan unless the Taliban backtracks on a reported ban on women playing sport.
There were other superficial signs of the Taliban tightening their grip.
Images on social media showed the country's main airport -- previously dubbed Hamid Karzai International, after the first post-Taliban president -- had been renamed Kabul International.
A public holiday scheduled for Thursday honouring Ahmad Shah Massoud, the famed anti-Taliban resistance fighter assassinated 20 years ago by an Al-Qaeda suicide squad, was also cancelled.
© 2021 AFP
- Legitimacy must be 'earned' -
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said any international legitimacy for the Taliban government would have to be "earned", after leading a 20-nation virtual meeting on the Afghan crisis.
In Germany, Blinken said the ministerial talks were the "starting point for international coordination" on dealing with the Taliban.
Among the countries in the virtual meeting were European allies and historic Taliban backer Pakistan.
"The Taliban seek international legitimacy. Any legitimacy -- any support -- will have to be earned," Blinken told reporters.
The European Union said the "caretaker" government failed to honour previous vows of inclusion.
China meanwhile said it welcomed the end of "three weeks of anarchy", adding it "attaches great importance" to the announcement of an interim government.
Former Afghan president Ashraf Ghani, who fled the country as the Taliban entered Kabul, apologised Wednesday to the Afghan people for how his rule ended.
And on Thursday Cricket Australia said it would cancel a historic maiden Test match against Afghanistan unless the Taliban backtracks on a reported ban on women playing sport.
There were other superficial signs of the Taliban tightening their grip.
Images on social media showed the country's main airport -- previously dubbed Hamid Karzai International, after the first post-Taliban president -- had been renamed Kabul International.
A public holiday scheduled for Thursday honouring Ahmad Shah Massoud, the famed anti-Taliban resistance fighter assassinated 20 years ago by an Al-Qaeda suicide squad, was also cancelled.
© 2021 AFP
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