Following the destruction of the statue of Abdul Ali Mazari, the former leader of the Hezb-e Wahdat-e Islami Party, reports indicate that the Taliban plan to demolish his memorial as well.
Local sources said that the Taliban had begun construction work around this memorial, dedicated to the prominent Hazara leader, in Mazari Square recently.
According to these reports, the group intends to extend the reconstruction of the road between Pul-e-Sorkh and Pul-e-Sokhta to Mazari Square and completely remove his memorial.
Taliban members destroyed Mazari's statue in this square on Saturday night but did not provide an explanation for their actions.
After demolishing Abdul Ali Mazari's statue, the Taliban banned photography and filming of the destroyed statue and his memorial.
Following the destruction of the statue, several political leaders and many social media users reacted, calling it "hostile”.
Muhammad Mohaqiq, leader of People's Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan, called the Taliban's action "adventurism and a challenge" for an "early armed confrontation”.
Additionally, Sarwar Danish, former vice-president, called the Taliban's action "hostile," "childish," and "a sign of the Taliban's fear" of "the intellectual and historical symbols of the Afghan people”.
Danish added that currently, the "intellectual and cultural war is far more important and decisive than political wars and the conflict for power and wealth”.
He explained that this intellectual and cultural war continues along two lines: "the pursuit of justice and freedom" and "tyranny and monopoly”.
Some political leaders have remained silent about the Taliban's actions.
In the past two days, many social media users have also reacted to the Taliban's actions. While Taliban supporters endorsed the group's actions, opponents condemned them.
Also, the Taliban removed and tore flags and banners that Shia Muslims had put up for the month of Muharram. They told residents in some neighbourhoods that they were not allowed to display such flags on rooftops and streets.
The group also defaced the image of Amanullah Khan in Torkham, eastern Afghanistan, which sparked widespread reactions.
