Families of ex-military officers of the former Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) protested in Herat on Wednesday against being forcibly evicted from their homes in Ghand 11 area.
A number of women protested in the street near Herat’s provincial building in Ghand 11 demanding the Taliban’s local administration reverse its evictions. They claim that they have been targeted in the Ghand 11 area because their family members served in the ANSF under the previous government.
Around 20 women gathered at 11.00AM chanting slogans such as, “Justice, justice, justice!” and “End to oppression!” They said that the Taliban have taken away their only shelter as they have nowhere else to live. They accused the local Taliban administration of gross injustice.
As the protest got underway in front of Herat provincial building entrance, the Taliban forces closed the gate and the local authorities of the group refused to respond or speak to them.
After protesting for an hour, the women returned to their homes without any reply or notice from the Taliban.
A local source in Herat, who wished not to be named, told Rukhshana Media that the Taliban removed families of the former ANSF soldiers from their homes and moved people in who were loyal to the Taliban.
The source added that Ghand 11 was where many military personnel under the Republic had built their homes and lived on the government land.
Families in Ghand 11 hold a share under the effect of the 207th Zafar Army Corps, which is related to the Ministry of Defense, and only the soldiers of the previous government lived in this area, the source said.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, there have been numerous reports of forced evictions and removal of families from homes in various parts of the country, but it is not clear how many families or homes have been forcibly retaken or what efforts are made to re-home the families who were living there.
