The Taliban has disconnected telecommunication networks in the western part of Kabul as residents mourn the day of Ashura.
Residents of Kabul reported that all telecommunication networks in this area have been disconnected since Friday morning.
Taliban officials have not provided any information regarding the situation. Last year, on the same day, the Taliban also interrupted telecommunications networks in certain parts of Kabul City.
This year, the Taliban has imposed strict restrictions on the observance of Muharram by Shia communities in Afghanistan. The Council of Shia Ulema and Shia communities across the country have strongly reacted to these unprecedented measures, which they believe are a crackdown on religious freedom.
The Taliban has ordered Shia communities to refrain from displaying decorative flags and symbols in public spaces and limited the number of places where processions can be held.
The group claims that these restrictions are due to security reasons, but sources indicate that these measures have been enforced even in remote villages where there are no serious security risks.
