Divorce, smartphones and control - BBC sees how Taliban run Afghanistan
Five years after the Taliban’s return, the BBC follows senior figures as the group reshapes the country.
In northern Afghanistan, an 18-year-old woman, identified as Tuba, seeks a divorce from her husband, alleging months of abuse and beatings. Despite her request, Governor Abdullah Sarhadi, a former Taliban commander, advises her to compromise or risk losing her dignity and honor. The governor's comment that women are "mindless" and "deficient in intellect" is met with laughter from male officials present.
Sarhadi, who previously planned suicide attacks and spent time in Guantanamo Bay, expresses concern that smartphones have slowed official communication. However, his views on the Taliban's policies remain unchanged, as he mentions destroying ancient Buddha statues in Bamiyan, which he believes was in accordance with God's law. Meanwhile, in Kabul, Habibullah Badr, a former Taliban suicide attacker, discusses his past while preparing to receive a medal for his role in the Taliban administration.
Tuba's father later informs the BBC that they will pursue a court divorce, despite the difficulty in obtaining one without the husband's consent.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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