Above image: Muharram celebrations in 2022.
Below is a summary of our findings. Scroll to the bottom of the page to download the full investigation (PDF file).
At the end of July 2023, Ashura commemorations were held across Afghanistan. Reports of unrest were documented by Afghan Witness (AW) in several areas of the country, including Kabul. The most high profile incident, however, was in Ghazni on 28 July 2023, where videos and photos emerged showing clashes between the Taliban and crowds, causing injuries and deaths.
Using open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques, AW mapped the content to the Nawabad area, northwest of the provincial capital, and identified two further locations, also in Nawabad. The imagery appears to show the disproportionate use of force by Taliban members against civilians, including those observing Ashura commemorations.
Between 28 and 30 July 2023, Afghan civilians and local news agencies in Ghazni province circulated multiple videos and photographs on social media, purporting to show unrest and violence during Ashura commemorations in Ghazni province, including content showing wounded and killed civilians. Nine videos identified by AW could be geolocated to the Nawabad and Qala-e Shahada areas of Ghazni. These videos show Taliban forces dispersing gathered crowds, including striking crowd members, the use of firearms to threaten the crowd, and the use of water cannons.
AW observed that these crowds included children, and ultimately the violence resulted in child casualties, including the verified death of a male child (Victim 1). AW also captured footage of a second victim (Victim 2), which surfaced on the day and showed the victim among Ashura crowds, with a serious wound – possibly a head wound or arterial wound, based on the volume of dark blood visible in the footage.
While the footage of Victim 2 could not be geolocated, both Victim 1 and Victim 2 could be identified in footage of funerals the following day. There were a further two funerals for young males, although no footage was identified showing the moments they were injured. Given the available evidence, it is likely that at least four individuals were killed in the unrest surrounding the Ashura commemoration ceremonies in Ghazni province – in line with the reporting at the time.
According to the Taliban’s explanation of events, the unrest was sparked by violent elements among the crowd who they said, “threw stones at the security forces,” and “some evil elements also opened fire [from the crowd].” Some of the imagery captured in the videos showed the throwing of stones towards Taliban forces, however, there is no evidence of gunfire coming from the crowd. Moreover, if there had been an exchange of fire between the Taliban and armed elements among the crowd, it is likely there would be evidence of significantly higher casualties.
The available footage shows a standoff occurred between approximately 10 Taliban members and the large crowd of Ashura participants in the Nawabad market square. A fire engine arrived, and used its hose in an attempt to disperse the crowd. This was not effective. Shortly after, the Taliban began firing, likely aerially, to disperse the crowd, who then fled in multiple directions away from the square. It should be stressed there is no footage showing Taliban forces firing directly at the crowds and, again, we would expect significantly higher casualties if that had been the case.
It is worth noting that Victim 1, the young boy who was recorded lying face down and seriously injured, was located 200 metres southeast of the market where the initial unrest took place. This indicates that Taliban forces continued to disperse crowds away from the market where the initial unrest took place. Pro-Taliban accounts suggested the boy was trampled to death by the crowd, however, his clothes do not show any evidence of trampling and witnesses recorded in the video can be heard saying “he has been shot.”
Given the available footage and reporting, AW’s assessment is that the Taliban were responsible for the death of two young males – killed by gunfire – and that there were two further deaths whose cause cannot be established from the available footage. It is likely that the two deaths from gunfire were accidental, as a result of the firing to disperse crowds in the market square and surrounding streets, rather than the result of direct and deliberate fire at the crowds by Taliban forces.
Following the unrest in Ghazni, a delegation was assigned “to comprehensively investigate the incident, identify the perpetrators, and present them to the Justice Department.” On 9 August 2023, a Taliban-appointed delegation, composed of Shia leaders and Taliban officials, reportedly visited Ghazni province to address local concerns. Despite this visit and the pledge of a comprehensive investigation to identify the perpetrators, there has been no subsequent reporting to suggest a full investigation has taken place.