The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced that its morality police have arrested a young man for allegedly behaving “inappropriately” toward a Chinese tourist, following the circulation of a widely shared video on social media.
The ministry did not release the identity of the individual, details of the arrest, the location of the incident, or the current status of the case.
The video, which sparked outrage online, shows a young Chinese man seated in a vehicle being verbally harassed by several individuals. Social media users strongly condemned the behaviour, calling for accountability.
The incident comes as the Taliban seek to promote Afghanistan as a secure destination for international visitors. On 30 April 2024, the Associated Press reported that the Taliban have begun offering tourism management training to help develop the country’s travel industry.
According to the report, Afghanistan recorded approximately 7,000 foreign tourists last year, with numbers steadily increasing since the Taliban’s return to power.
Mohammad Saeed, head of the Taliban’s tourism directorate in Kabul, said Chinese nationals currently represent the largest group of foreign tourists in the country, citing geographic proximity and China’s large population as key factors.
