Freedom advocates do not have a bright future in Afghanistan, given the ruthlessness of the Taliban. Nonetheless, “hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the capital Kabul chanting anti-Pakistan slogans and calling for ‘freedom’, a day after resistance leader Ahmad Massoud called for an ‘uprising’ against the Taliban rule.”
Anything reported out of Afghanistan will increasingly become shrouded by propaganda, given Taliban control over media and its strong-arming of the population to keep it in a stranglehold under strict Islamic rule.
The protesters tried to avoid anti-Taliban rhetoric as they focused on demands for freedom, women’s rights and an end to Pakistani interference. But the Taliban fired shots to disperse the demonstrators and injured some, causing at least two to be hospitalized.
Unfortunately all of the protester demands in the Taliban’s view translate to rebellion against Taliban rule, as Pakistan supports the Taliban, the Taliban is extremely oppressive to women as per the Sharia, and freedom is incompatible with the Islamic law to which the Taliban strictly adheres.
“Hundreds of Afghans take to Kabul’s streets calling for ‘freedom,’” by Ali M. Latifi, Al Jazeera, September 7, 2021:
Kabul, Afghanistan – Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the capital Kabul chanting anti-Pakistan slogans and calling for “freedom”, a day after resistance leader Ahmad Massoud called for an “uprising” against the Taliban rule.
The demonstrations – which ranged in size from several hundred to a few dozen – began on Tuesday morning and continued into the afternoon before they were dispersed by the Taliban fighters firing into the air, protesters told Al Jazeera.
Journalists also said that they were prohibited from filming, with TOLONews, a private broadcaster based in Kabul, saying at least one of their cameramen was detained for filming the protests.
A source in the traffic police from the previous administration speaking to Al Jazeera from near the entrance to the Presidential Palace, said they saw the Taliban destroy several cameras and arrest journalists as they followed protesters towards the palace.
Shakib Ghori, one of the protesters who marched towards the Presidential Palace, said that the crowd of hundreds were only calling for “freedom” and criticising the “intrusion” of neighbouring Pakistan into Afghanistan’s domestic affairs.
Ghori said though the protesters were demanding an inclusive government and that the rights of women be respected, none of their gatherings was meant to be explicitly anti-Taliban.
“We were asking for our rights. A political system that respects all Afghans. And an end to Pakistan’s constant interference in Afghanistan, that’s it,” Ghori said adding that he saw no reason for the Taliban to try and break up the protest.
“We didn’t say anything about the Taliban, so why would they fire?”
Ghori said the Taliban also began to hit people, and he was also hit by the butt of a gun. He also said that he transferred at least two injured protesters to nearby hospitals….
CogitoErgoSum says
Be careful you don’t make the Taliban mad. Maybe you can get them just to laugh at you. Good luck with that strategy.
john smith says
Yes, they don’t want to rub up the taliban the wrong way, that’s for sure.
mortimer says
Pakistan is to blame for keeping the Taliban alive for 20 years and weak, naïve, old Biden is to blame for letting the Taliban walk in and take 80 million worth of advanced military equipment.
The greatest gross incompetence of any American president.
James Lincoln says
Guaranteed, these demonstrations will not last long in Kabul.
mortimer says
I admire the courage of these people. They are telling the world that most Afghans like the freedom they had before the Taliban and they want it back.
Biden will be deaf to them and blind to the catastrophe for millions of Afghans that HE CAUSED.
somehistory says
The “new and improved” terror group now has more they can use against any who don’t appreciate all of the crackdowns that began before the Americans…the ones who actually left…were gone.
They’ll just “run over” the protestors, like biden is going to do to the governors who resist his tyranny., per one of his “staff” who knows…and “admires” biden.
tim gallagher says
I applaud the bravery of these demonstrators. Knowing what brutal, sadistic, knuckle dragging scum are in charge there, people who just love to kill and beat the crap out of people, these demonstrators definitely display extraordinary courage. They will, almost certainly, have no success, but they are very courageous people.
gravenimage says
Hear, hear, Tim!
tim gallagher says
Thanks, gravenimage. Yes, it would take an enormous amount of courage to get out and demonstrate when you know what vicious scum the Taliban’s members are. It’s the same as when you see people out protesting in countries like Iran with the violent vermin who are in control there. I suppose life under these hardline Islamic regimes is so terrible, maybe even hardly worth living, that people feel that they have to get out and protest.
Infidel says
Speaking of Pakistan, I’m waiting for the Tehrik-e-Taliban – TTP – to revolt against Imran Khan’s regime. It’ll be fun seeing the Taliban seeking the end of the regime that supported them, since I don’t expect the Taliban not to support their Paki chapter
gravenimage says
Yes–even Imran Khan is not Islamic enough for some Muslims.
gravenimage says
Afghanistan: Protestors chant anti-Pakistan slogans and call for freedom
Freedom advocates do not have a bright future in Afghanistan, given the ruthlessness of the Taliban. Nonetheless, “hundreds of protesters took to the streets of the capital Kabul chanting anti-Pakistan slogans and calling for ‘freedom’
……………..
I’m surprised there are still hundreds of people who want at least some kind of freedom remaining in Afghanistan–including some unveiled women.
I hope all these people stay safe.
Gerrit Smith says
If you ask these demonstrators whether they prefer allah’s sharia law or men made laws, the answer would surprise everyone.
I suspect most of them would opt for sharia and there is no freedom in sharia.
James Lincoln says
I think that they want just a less enforced version of sharia, Gerrit.
Not a Jeffersonian democracy.