Taliban fighters banned from bringing weapons into amusement parks

Josephine Wenson | U. Pittsburgh School of Law, US

FEBRUARY 3, 2022 10:28:13 AM

The Taliban’s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, Wednesday announced that the cabinet had decided that Taliban fighters were no longer allowed to carry their weapons, wear their military uniforms, or drive their military vehicles in amusement parks in Afghanistan.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s capital in Kabul on August 15, 2021. According to Taliban members, the majority of young Taliban fighters had not ever been to Kabul prior to their takeover and were reportedly eager to visit one of Kabul’s largest amusement parks and a waterslide park at the Qargha reservoir before returning to duties around the country. Therefore, Taliban members who visited the amusement park were clutching automatic rifles while on the amusement park rides. This behavior caused many visitors of the park to flood the internet with pictures of Taliban members on pedal boats or bumper cars with rifles in hand.

As a result, Mujahid took to Twitter to inform the world that “Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are not allowed to enter amusement parks with weapons, military uniforms and vehicles.” He continued by adding that they “are obliged to abide by all the rules and regulations of amusement parks.” 

The cabinet’s decision has been seen by the international world as yet another attempt by the Taliban to persuade fellow Afghans and the rest of the world that the Taliban has become more modern and should receive access to international financial support amid a growing humanitarian crisis.