Daily Evacuation Brief | January 18, 2023
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LAST 24 HOURS
TALIBAN RECOMMENCE PUBLIC PUNISHMENTS IN KANDAHAR PROVINCE – 9 Afghan men were publicly flogged in the sports stadium of Kandahar city yesterday. The men had been sentenced for adultery and theft. Several media outlets had reported the punishments included amputations (hands) but those reports seem to be in dispute at the moment. The public lashings are thought to be the first after a break of nearly fourteen days. Photos of the stadium showed it at near capacity.
RUMORS OF ANOTHER PURGE IN THE MILITARY – Senior officials in the Ministry of Defense have long expressed concern over a lack of discipline in the ranks. Virtually from the moment the Taliban took power, there have been expressions of concern that some among the security forces consistently act with malice towards citizens and most in the Taliban leadership have expressed outrage over the reported atrocities committed against both civilians and Resistance prisoners. On at least three occasions, the Taliban have publicly admitted to removing several thousand of their fighters. In a signal that another purge is in the works, Deputy Minister of Defense, Mullah Mohammad Fazel Mazloum, has ordered leaders within the security apparatus to identify those ‘abusers’ within the force.
TEACHERS AND STAFF IN NANGARHAR MUST OBSERVE NEW DRESS AND GROOMING RULES – Taliban education officials in Nangarhar have ordered all staff to grow beards and wear hats/turbans for prayers. Those who fail to observe the new standards will face immediate dismissal.
NEXT 24 HOURS
TEMPERATURES SHOULD NORMALIZE SOON – Most of the meteorological forecasts indicate that temperatures should warm up over the next few days and should bring a bit of respite to those who have been exposed to the cold. Rural roadways may be unpassable due to mud.
ALERT
REGIONAL ROUNDUP
IRAN
The American citizen who has been arrested in Iran has begun a 7-day hunger strike to gain awareness of his situation.
Several of the larger protest groups in Iran have asked the international community to name the IRGC as a terrorist organization in a jointly composed letter. The United Kingdom is expected to be the first to label the IRGC this week.
The Iranian military released details about its new military doctrine in the region. The strategy has been titled, “The Sea of Blood”. Presumably, in reference to naval actions, it would take in a future conflict.
PAKISTAN
The speaker of the National Assembly has reputedly accepted some of the PTI party MPs resignations.
The National Assembly passed a law allowing life sentences to be handed down for blasphemy.
After the murder of a noted lawyer (Afridi) in a Peshawar court, several law groups have gone on strike for upgraded security measures in courts.
SPOTLIGHT OPINION
Levine: Mursal Nabizada's slaying must spur Canada to help female Afghan MPs
By Corey Levine - Ottawa Citizen
Nabizada’s assassination is the latest tragedy for Afghan women and girls, who have been experiencing their erasure from public life, and it serves as a stark reminder of the gender apartheid system the fundamentalist Taliban have imposed. Girls are not allowed to attend school beyond grade six, and are forbidden from going to parks or gyms. They have been forced out of most government institutions and all non-governmental organizations. They are also not allowed to leave their homes without a male to accompany them.
AFGHAN NEWS
NGOs resume some Afghan operations with women workers
By Al Jazeera
Three foreign aid groups restore work in the health sector after the Taliban bans women from working with NGOs in…
Forming New Parties Outside Afghanistan Not a Solution: Islamic Emirate
By Imran Danish - TOLO News
In reaction to the formation of a new political party by former intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil, the Islamic Emirate said that the…
Taliban (IEA) Authorities Flog Nine People in Kandahar
By Nizamuddin Rezahi - Khaama Press
Kandahar province’s court of appeals announced in a press release on Monday that nine individuals allegedly accused of committing adultery and theft have…
REGIONAL NEWS
Foreign Female Students Protest Ban by Afghan Taliban
By Munaza Shaheed - VOA
The Afghan Taliban’s ban on women attending universities has been devastating for foreign students who had been studying medicine in…
By Fidel Rahmati - Khaama Press
On Tuesday, 17 January, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Qatar tweeted a short video of External Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani while talking at the…
INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELATING TO AFGHANISTAN
Remarks by UN Deputy-Spokesperson on Afghanistan consultations and visit
By UNAMA
On behalf of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, and…
Ukraine ships 16,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan
By Ariana News
Interfax reported that MV Antheia, chartered by the UN World Food Program, is carrying 15,869 tonnes of wheat for humanitarian assistance to…
THE DAILY WTF
Taliban start buying blue ticks on Twitter
By Abdirahim Saeed - BBC Monitoring
The Taliban have started using Twitter's paid-for verification feature, meaning some now have blue ticks on their…
Afghani to the Dollar: $1 – 90.10 AFN (as of 18 JAN 2023)