Protests Erupt in Mazar-i-Sharif After Taliban Destroy Auction Shops

Protests Erupt in Mazar-i-Sharif After Taliban Destroy Auction Shops
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Protests broke out in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province in northern Afghanistan, on Tuesday, September 16, after Taliban forces demolished shops linked to the city’s auction trade. Local media reported that the Taliban destroyed all auction houses in the area and barred shop owners and vendors from returning to the site.

Witnesses said dozens of Taliban fighters were deployed to prevent further gatherings. Videos circulating on social media showed demonstrators marching through the streets, chanting anti-Taliban slogans, including “death to traitors.” The protests highlight growing tensions between residents and the Taliban, amid worsening economic pressures and complaints of restrictive policies that have disrupted livelihoods across the country.