Afghans protest against beheading of civilians

Kabul, November 10: Thousands of Afghans demonstrated on Tuesday in Ghazni city, capital of the eastern Ghazni province, to protest against beheading of seven civilians by militants. On Saturday night, militants loyal to the IS group beheaded seven civilians, including two women and a child, in Kabul province, bordering Ghazni, Xinhua reported. The protestors carried the bodies of the victims while marching toward the provincial government office building to demand justice.

“We demand the government bring to justice all those involved in the brutal killing of innocent civilians,” protestor Mohammad Jaffar said. Carrying banners with “murderers should be brought to justice,” and “death to Taliban, death to Daesh” the demonstrators called upon the government to protect the roadways and provide security for traveller.

They also demanded punishment for those behind the barbaric murder. Earlier in the day, members of Afghan civil society held a protest in Kabul calling for punishment of those who committed the crime. On Monday, President Ashraf Ghani and the government’s chief executive Abdullah Abdullah strongly condemned the killing of civilians in Kabul. Nearly 1,600 civilians were killed and more than 3,300 others were injured in attacks in the first half of 2015, according to UN mission figures. (IANS)