A number of Badakhshan young activists held a rally in the capital Kabul today, June 10, to protest against the killing of protesters in Badakhshan calling for removal and prosecution of the province’s governor, Zakaria Sawda.
The local authorities in Badakhshan, inter alia its governor, have turned the protest violent and all those liable should be prosecuted, they said in a statement. “Response of Badakhshan’s local administration against the civil and rightful protest of Faizabad residents which left four martyred and more than 40 others wounded, is contrary to all humanitarian and ethical principles,” part of the statement reads.
Moreover, they called on the central government to appoint a new governor for Badakhshan province in close consultation with residents of the people. The young protesters also urged the government to avoid any attempt under any excuse to terrorize the protesters in Faizabad, capital city of Badakhshan.
They also called on the government to ensure security in the province by deploying additional security forces in Badakhshan’s border areas and avoid creating militias in the province.
A large number of Badakhshan residents took to the street in Faizabad on Tuesday, June 08, to protest against insecurity and shortage of power and water supplies. The protest started around 09:00 AM and turned violent.
At least four protesters were killed and 45 others were wounded as a result of shooting and stoning, according to Noor Khawar, director of Badakhshan’s Public Health Directorate.
The Parliament speaker, Mir Rahman Rahmani, has instructed the Parliament’s internal security committee to investigate the case and share the results in the general assembly of the Parliament in order to make an appropriate decision.
Nik Mohammad Nazari, spokesperson for Badakhshan governor, said that angry protestors have set a number of governmental offices on fire. They damaged part of provincial building’s wall and destroyed several military vehicles after attacking the military facilities, he added.
Office of the President announced yesterday, Wednesday, June 09, that President Ghani has assigned a fact finding committee chaired by his adviser, Abdul Wadood Sabet, to probe how the protest turned violent.
Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), has called for an independent committee to investigate the violence, with participation of the victims’ families.
Pointing to the national and international humanitarian laws, the AIHRC noted that the Afghan government is obliged to ensure security of the protesters and address their legitimate demands.
