Note: In addition to incidents in Kabul, there were clashes around Muharram events in Ghazni that resulted in the deaths of at least two young boys, with several verifiable videos relating to the events. AW is currently investigating and producing a report on the incident.
On July 18, 2023, the spokesperson for the Kabul Police, Khalid Zadran, posted a message claiming that “two different committees have been established for the better security of the religious ceremonies of the Shiite compatriots in the month of Muharram.” In the following week, on July 26, Zadran added that security matters had been “determined in collusion with the committees (security institutions and representatives of Shiites)”.
Despite Zadran’s public assurances to provide a safe environment for the Ashura commemorations, several videos surfaced online showing uniformed Taliban acting violently towards civilians participating in the events.
Events on July 26
On July 26, Afghanistan International and BBC Persian shared a video recorded from higher ground, possibly a window of a building, showing Taliban fighters confronting a group of people participating in Ashura events.
At the start of the BBC clip, filmed from a vantage point on the south side of Shaheed Mazari road, a crowd can be seen gathered around a group carrying a large red flag along the road westwards. As the camera pans left – towards the East – armed Taliban fighters, some in full protective clothing, advance towards the crowd, swinging their weapons.
The Taliban continue to advance, barging into and breaking up a group of people self-flagellating that were following the flag bearers, as a vehicle follows and accelerates towards the crowd to disperse them.
The figure below shows screenshots from the recordings. The white Taliban vehicle can be seen driving toward the crowd to disperse them (left), and three armed Taliban are seen advancing towards the civilians swinging their weapons at them (right).
