The pirate ship whizzes back and forth at full speed. And the passengers obviously like it. They laugh and cheer for joy. But this scene is not entirely normal. Because the men who ride the swing ship carry machine guns around their necks. They are Taliban fighters.
A video shows how the warriors have fun in the amusement park near the capital Kabul. In addition to the pirate ship, there is a carousel, a ferris wheel and pedalos on the premises.
Families usually visit the park. But the children’s laughter of yore has stopped. But now the Taliban have a lot of fun. As the sun goes down, the men unceremoniously sit down on the swan-shaped pedals and take a lap on the water. Always with you: machine guns, grenade launchers and bazookas.
Experts fear a continuation of the reign of terror
While the Taliban fighters are having fun, the country is going through a humanitarian crisis following the withdrawal of international troops in August. After decades of war and conflict, Afghanistan is in need of international support. Many states want to make aid deliveries subject to conditions. Observers fear that, despite all hopes for a more moderate course, the Taliban will again govern with a hard hand.
Many states want to make aid deliveries subject to conditions. Observers fear that, despite all hopes for a more moderate course, the Taliban will again govern with a hard hand.
During their rule in the late 1990s, the Taliban were known to punish crimes with public flogging, publicly stoning people, and amputating limbs. In 2001 her regime was overthrown by the US invasion.
Women’s protests put down
The Taliban recently violently broke up a rally by some women in front of a school in Kabul. Fighters of the radical Islamic group fired warning shots on Thursday and attacked a journalist, as reported by AFP reporters.
The six activists called for girls to return to secondary schools. In front of a school in the east of the Afghan capital, they unfurled a banner that read, “Don’t break our pens, don’t burn our books, don’t close our schools”.
The Taliban pushed back the protesters and hit a foreign journalist who wanted to film the protest with a gun. A Taliban fighter fired warning shots in the air. The protest participants then withdrew to school.
All schools were closed
The rally was broken up because it had not been coordinated with the security authorities, said a fighter from the Islamist group, which had taken power in Afghanistan again in August. «You have the right to protest in our country as in any other country. But they have to inform the security authorities beforehand, ”he added.
Schools in Afghanistan were closed after the Taliban returned to power. The primary schools have now reopened, also for girls. In mid-September, the Taliban then ordered male teachers and students back to secondary schools. However, female pupils were excluded from attending secondary schools.
Two people shot dead during a demonstration
During the first Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, women were largely banned from public life. The new Taliban leadership has promised a less strict interpretation of Islamic law and announced that it will respect women’s rights. However, since the Taliban came to power, women have largely been banned from returning to their jobs in the government apparatus.
In the past few weeks there have been isolated protests against the new rulers. Two people were shot dead at a demonstration in Herat in early September. Since the Taliban announced that it would crack down on unauthorized rallies, the protests have declined. (jmh / AFP)