Taliban In Kandahar Force People To Participate in Meetings With Ombudsmen

Local sources in Kandahar told Afghanistan International that the ombudsmen of the group’s vice and virtue department are checking images, videos and personal information on the phones of the youths.

Some locals said that having songs or videos on cellphones could lead to a day in jail.

Local sources told the Pashto section of Afghanistan International on Thursday that the ombudsmen holding meetings three days in a week in Khakrez, Boldak, Shawlikot and Zhari Miwand districts about their new laws and bring people to the meetings by force.

A resident of Kandahar's Miwand district told Afghanistan International that in these meetings people are advised to follow Sharia law, not listen to music and obey the Taliban.

Ahmadullah, a resident of Kandahar's Khakrez district, said that the Taliban advises them to conform to Sharia law, pray on time and accept the group's orders.

At the same time, some people of the mentioned districts complain about the inspection of private information in their mobile phones and the violent treatment by the Taliban forces.

They claimed that the Taliban imprisons young people for a day after checking their cell phones if they find songs or videos on it.

This action of the Taliban is in conflict with the request of Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Taliban, about not checking people's mobile phones and personal information and content.

Taliban holds meetings with people to explain the law. Last week, the representatives of the Ministry of Education, Information and Culture and the governors of the five provinces of the Taliban held a meeting in Kandahar regarding the promotion of the new law of vice and virtue.