Herat
Ghor protests take six lives
(Last Updated On: )
At least six people, including Ahmad Khan Navid, a correspondent for Ghor’s local radio station, were killed and 19 others were injured during protests in Firuzkuh, Ghor.
Civil society activists in Ghor province say some people went on protests after they failed to receive donations from a Qatari Aid Organization in Firuzkuh.
The protest turned into a riot when the police fired in the air to move hundreds of protesters away.
Ghor Governor Ghulam Nasir Khazih said the protesters were joined by unknown gunmen, who fueled the riot.
The interior ministry said in a statement that two policemen and four civilians – including a journalist – were killed in the incident.
According to Khazih, the protest took place when a Qatari Aid Organization distributed aid to some 1500 needy, while others didn’t happen to receive any aid.
Reportedly, the demonstration began by throwing stones at the governor’s office and the Ghor Police Headquarters. According to the police, they fired shots into the air to disperse the crowd, while eyewitnesses say it was a targeted shootout that took several lives.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International South Asia has called on the Afghan authorities to “immediately order an independent and effective investigation into the use of unnecessary and excessive force” during the protest.
The Afghan authorities must immediately order an independent and effective investigation into use of unnecessary and excessive force that led to the killing of four civilians, including a local journalist, and the injury of others outside the Governor’s office in Ghor. https://t.co/dCGaC4zil6
— Amnesty International South Asia (@amnestysasia) May 9, 2020
It is worth mentioning that like the rest of the country, people in Ghor have also lost their jobs due to the restrictions and lockdown aimed to stop the Coronavirus outbreak.
The nation is going through difficult times waiting for the government and national and international donor bodies to give them a hand.
