The “Purple Saturdays” movement, in a statement, described the recent decree of the Taliban leader on the forced collection of mentally ill patients across Afghanistan as a clear violation of the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities and warned of its dangerous consequences.

Local sources in Badakhshan province report a complete shutdown of internet services. Residents of the province say that the Taliban, by pressuring telecommunications and internet companies, have disrupted free access to the internet.

Following the Taliban’s repressive policies to restrict freedom of expression and access to information, residents of Balkh province report a complete shutdown of internet services in the province, saying that by direct order of the Taliban governor in Balkh, all internet service providers have been suspended for the past two days, leaving no access to the internet through landlines or private companies.

Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Austria, has announced the holding of the 12th “From Kabul to Vienna” festival.