Rahela Dostum: Taliban cannot suppress the will of the people of Herat

Rahela Dostum, a former Afghan senator and daughter of Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, has described the suppression of popular protests in Herat as contrary to human rights and stressed that the Taliban’s efforts to silence the voice of protesters will not succeed. In a message posted on X, she expressed support for the demands of the protesters and the women of Herat, and condemned the Taliban’s treatment of the protesters. Rahela Dostum wrote: “Herat has a proud history of defending rights, justice, and the spread of awareness, and the Taliban cannot stop the will of the people by creating an atmosphere of fear and repression.” The former senator also emphasised that the Taliban’s efforts to prevent citizens from making demands regarding education, work, and freedom will fail. Referring to the importance of the rule of law and the people’s right to self-determination, she added that the citizens of Afghanistan will overcome the Taliban’s policies on the path to achieving freedom.