Afghan Social Media Users Scramble to Delete Accounts Amid Taliban Revenge Killings
Reports of killings of its citizens spread since the group entered Kabul.
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Afghan activists and social media influencers have been frantically deleting their posts and even their accounts following the Taliban's takeover of the country following Joe Biden's disastrous pull out of U.S troops last month.
According to a report from the BBC, "since 15 August, Afghans have been deleting photos and tweets from their past - and many have turned away from social media altogether for fear of being targeted by Taliban forces."
The Taliban is purporting to offer amnesty for officials and supporters of the previous US-backed government.
But reports of killings of its citizens spread since the group entered Kabul.
Journalists are also targeted as the Taliban began hanging bodies of "criminals" in public squares,
Neon Nettle reported last month that two Afghan journalists who were covering a women's protest in Kabul were severely beaten by the Taliban.
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Reporter Taqi Daryabi and photographer Nematullah Naqdi suffered bruising and welts on their backs and legs as a result of the beating.
According to the pair, the Taliban beat them with electrical cables, whips, and batons after they were detained for several hours.
Meanwhile, dissidents with large social media followings, including "Fida" - who had this to say:
Speaking to the BBC, he claimed he was told by relatives that he was in danger for playing a detrimental role in the Taliban's war against "occupiers".
Hackers have taken over the former Afghan president’s #Facebook page and are posting messages suggesting that people support the #Taliban, according to his official Twitter account.https://t.co/yXwDtVcOyM
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) September 27, 2021
"They told my relatives that people will not forgive, despite the general amnesty," he said, adding that his name appeared on a list describing people being "shot in the head wherever they are found."
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Fida said since the Taliban's takeover of the capital, he deleted all of his social media accounts.
He added his last Facebook post had been openly anti-Taliban and signaled he was looking to leave the country.
Mohammad Yaqoob, the Taliban's defense minister, admitted the government is aware of reports of "revenge killings."
He was recorded as saying:
"Recently, some people have been killed deliberately [by our fighters] in some parts of the country," RFERL reported.
But he added:
"Once we have declared a general amnesty, none of our fighters have the right to break that amnesty or violate it by settling personal scores or taking personal revenge."
One Afghan' influencer' said of the Taliban:
"They are still targeting people, killing people and searching for them,"
adding:
"It's just the beginning, just wait."
He added: "I don't think any educated Afghan will be able to stay here."
