Taliban Prevents Nowruz Celebration With Traditional Flag-Hoisting In Kabul
Local sources in Kabul have told Afghanistan International that the Taliban blocked the annual Nowruz flag-raising ceremony in the capital on Friday.
Local sources in Kabul have told Afghanistan International that the Taliban blocked the annual Nowruz flag-raising ceremony in the capital on Friday.
According to the sources, Taliban forces also closed off roads leading to the Sakhi Shrine, a central site for Nowruz celebrations in Kabul.
Several sources reported that Taliban fighters raided the shrine the previous night and expelled its security guards.
The Taliban’s actions come despite prior coordination between event organisers and local Taliban officials, the sources said.
Each year, residents of Kabul mark Nowruz—the first day of the Solar Hijri calendar—by hoisting a ceremonial flag at the Sakhi Shrine. Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, locals have continued the tradition despite a ban on Nowruz festivities.
The Taliban regard Nowruz as “forbidden” and have repeatedly obstructed its observance across multiple provinces. The group has also removed Nowruz as a public holiday from Afghanistan’s official calendar.
