RASC News Agency: Since reclaiming control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have persistently engaged in acts of public humiliation against citizens, showing no regard for their dignity. These actions mirror the savage conquests of uncivilized forces often depicted in historical narratives and films, where urban populations are subjected to demeaning treatment by oppressive invaders.
One striking example of this systematic degradation involves the Taliban’s Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs in the Ministry of Information and Culture. During a professional training session in Herat, the official publicly measured the beards of several family members of 29 participants attending a short-term online business course. He then warned them to grow their beards and wear caps, in line with Taliban-imposed codes of appearance. This training initiative was organized by the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED), an international humanitarian organization. Despite global requirements for aid programs to remain free from Taliban interference, the group has blatantly disregarded such standards, inserting itself into educational and developmental efforts managed by external organizations.
In a gathering of over 150 attendees, including the 29 graduates, the Taliban official conducted beard inspections and publicly admonished those who did not comply with their grooming standards. The program, aimed at fostering online business skills, served individuals from Herat, Badghis, Ghor, Farah, and Nimroz provinces. However, the Deputy Minister claimed that in addition to professional training, participants were also indoctrinated with religious teachings in accordance with Taliban ideology. Mohammad Younus Rashid, the Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs, addressed the graduates, stating: “I have not only provided training but also ensured compliance with Islamic Sharia. Alhamdulillah, they now wear caps and maintain beards.”
He further emphasized that over the course of three months, participants were required to engage in Tahajjud prayers, attend lessons on Quranic exegesis and Islamic jurisprudence, participate in congregational prayers, and adhere strictly to religious practices. Graduates were also instructed to bring a family member to the graduation ceremony, where their relatives’ beards were measured, and warnings were issued to conform to Taliban-imposed rules. The Taliban’s interference in the program highlights their broader agenda of controlling educational and developmental initiatives. Despite ACTED’s intention to operate independently, the Taliban have co-opted such programs to propagate their ideological objectives.
Reports of widespread Taliban involvement in humanitarian aid distribution have raised significant concerns among donor nations. This interference not only undermines the impartiality of aid efforts but also erodes public trust in the equitable delivery of assistance. The Afghanistani people have expressed deep anxiety over the Taliban’s exploitation of these resources, as it politicizes aid and imposes unnecessary constraints on programs meant to uplift the nation’s vulnerable populations.
The Taliban’s overt control of educational initiatives and humanitarian programs continues to spark international criticism, raising urgent questions about the future of aid distribution and human rights in Afghanistan.
