Behsudi Denies Protest Rumors in West Kabul, Urges Calm

Ayatollah Vâizzade Behsudi dismissed claims of planned protests in West Kabul as rumors and advised residents to stay indoors. Following calls circulating on social media, Taliban forces have reportedly become more visible in the area.

Scraper SystemJune 12, 2026, 12:30 PM

Behsudi Denies Protest Rumors in West Kabul, Urges Calm

Ayatollah Vâizzade Behsudi rejected allegations of planned protests in West Kabul, calling on local residents to remain calm and stay inside their homes.

The religious leader stated that the claim of a demonstration in Deste Berçi is a rumor and that he has not issued any such directive.

Addressing the neighborhood, Behsudi said, "I have definitely not given such an order; on the contrary, I urge you to maintain your calm and not leave your homes."

In the same statement, he emphasized the need to prevent escalation by saying, "Do not fuel the fire of those who seek to create discord."

Meanwhile, calls for protests in West Kabul circulated on social media today, though there is no independent confirmation of their accuracy.

According to local sources, Taliban members have become more visible in Deste Berçi compared to previous days, and security presence in the area has increased.

New protest calls have also emerged in Herat, but their authenticity has not yet been verified.

Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, urged all parties to avoid tension and conflict if a demonstration takes place in Herat.

Earlier this week in Herat, a protest was held in the Jebrail area following the detention of women over their style of dress, which drew strong criticism of the Taliban forces' intervention.

Residents say that even after four days, the situation in Jebrail has not returned to normal; the area still has a military presence, with Taliban checkpoints inspecting mobile phones to identify protest participants.

Due to extensive restrictions on media and public spaces in Afghanistan, verifying developments in West Kabul and Herat remains challenging.