The city of Mazar-e-Sharif has seen a number of tragic events since the Islamic Emirate took control, including the killing of the governor of Balkh…reports Asian Lite News
As the festival of Eid is inching closer, the residents of Mazar-e-Sharif city of Afghanistan have raised demands for tight security at mosques and public places, reported TOLOnews.
They said that they wished to celebrate Eid fearlessly. Notably, Mazar-e-Sharif is the fourth largest city in Afghanistan and the capital of the Balkh province. Speaking to TOLOnews, Ahmad Shakib, a resident of Mazar-e-Sharif called out to the Taliban to ensure the security of the mosques and recreational areas.
“We are on the eve of Eid al-Adha. We ask the security forces to ensure the security of the mosques and recreational areas so that people can celebrate Eid without fear,” he said.
Separately, another resident of Mazar-e-Sharif, Abdul Hossein said, “We ask the security forces of the Islamic Emirate to ensure the security of the mosques during the days of Eid.”
Meanwhile, Balkh Security Command officials pledged better security during the nights and days of Eid.
“We reassure the people of Balkh province, especially Mazar-e-Sharif, that our security forces are fully prepared to provide security during the days and nights of Eid,” said Mohammad Asif Waziri, the spokesperson for the Balkh Security Command.
The city of Mazar-e-Sharif has seen a number of tragic events since the Islamic Emirate took control, including the killing of the governor of Balkh.
Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, the law and order situation in the country has only deteriorated, with the rise in cases of terrorism and blasts.
The group banned women from going to schools, and later in December last year, they banned women from going to universities and working with aid agencies. Moreover, Afghanistan is also facing a severe economic crisis after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, that followed by the suspension of international aid and the freezing of more than USD 9 billion in foreign reserves, as per a TOLO News report.
Prisoners to be released
According to the Supreme Court, the Supreme leader of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada released orders to free 2,178 prisoners ahead of Eid-al-Adha, Khaama Press reported.
The statement said that at least 489 other prisoners were given reduced sentences for Eid. The Khaama Press News Agency is the largest online news service for Afghanistan, established in October 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan.
According to Helmand Province’s Deputy Head of Information and Culture on Monday, at least 118 prisoners were freed from the provincial prisons. However, according to the report, some of their inmates have completed their prison terms while others were punished by whipping, as per Khaama Press.
Moreover, some rights and education activists are still imprisoned and are not freed yet. Matihullah Wesa is one of the activists who has not been freed.
Matiullah Wesa was unlawfully detained by the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) on March 27 this year, as he left the mosque after evening prayers.
The day after his detention, the GDI raided his home and seized his laptop and mobile devices, reported Khaama Press.
Although, the spokesperson of the Taliban announced his detention on March 29 and charged him with criminal activity. There is no way to protest the legitimacy of his detention.
Moreover, his family is also not allowed to visit him, according to Khaama Press.
The Taliban authorities have not released him despite the massive condemnation. (ANI)
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