Taliban Force Young Schoolchildren in Khost to Participate in Anti-US and Anti-Israel Protests

Photo: Wakil KOHSAR / AFP

Local sources in Khost province report that the Taliban have forced a number of students from grades one to six to take part in a protest against the United States and Israel.

According to the sources, on Saturday (May 31), the Taliban’s Department of Education in the province gathered children from schools and kept them under the sun for several hours. The group compelled the students to chant slogans in support of Palestine and against the US and Israel.

Families of some of the children accused the Taliban of "exploiting" students and expressed dissatisfaction with the move.

This comes while the Taliban have not allowed any protests by their opponents over the past three years, yet on the previous day, they organized large gatherings in several provinces in support of Palestine.

It is worth noting that the use of children in political programs is considered a violation of educational principles and international commitments regarding child rights.