Taliban paint over mural demolishing art in Afghanistan

Activist Omaid Sharifi took to Twitter to share how the Taliban have started painting over murals in Afghanistan.

He tweeted, “And it begun. The Taliban have started painting over our murals.”

And it begun. The Taliban have started painting over our murals. They started with the historic one that marked the signing of #DohaDeal. #BaradarKhalilzadMural is no more. Instead, the black and white message says don’t trust the enemy’s propaganda, quoting Mullah Haibatullah. pic.twitter.com/Pls4McUQkj

— Omaid Sharifi (@OmaidSharifi) September 3, 2021

They started with the historic one that marked the signing of #DohaDeal. #BaradarKhalilzadMural is no more. Instead, the black and white message says don’t trust the enemy’s propaganda, quoting Mullah Haibatullah,” read the tweet.

Twitter reacted when Omaid shared the pictures on the platform.

Journalist Magda Gad tweeted, “Staden förändras varje dag [The city changes every day].”

Staden förändras varje dag. https://t.co/wI2xRmXm84

— Magda Gad (@gad_media) September 3, 2021

Journalist Amie Ferris-Rotman tweeted, “First they whitewashed images of women. Now they’re going for the art.”

First they whitewashed images of women. Now they’re going for the art https://t.co/FIAzvJHakB

— Amie Ferris-Rotman (@Amie_FR) September 3, 2021

A Twitter user wrote, “These Taliban terrorists are intent on destroying joy. They want to extinguish everything that makes us human.”

These taliban terrorists are intent on destroying joy. They want to extinguish everything that makes us human. It's heartbreaking, and we cannot turn our backs. #AfghanistanCrisishttps://t.co/HkipMiiGcb

— ♀️🇺🇦✨Juniper the Feminist ✨🇺🇦♀️ (@JunipersBird) September 3, 2021

Journalist Lyse Doucet tweeted, “The face of the city is changing .. the colour and character of #Kabul erased #Afghanistan.”

The face of the city is changing .. the colour and character of #Kabul erased #Afghanistan https://t.co/aCNhG1oCFL

— lyse doucet (@bbclysedoucet) September 3, 2021

Prior to this, images of women were covered up or vandalised on storefronts around Kabul. One of the salons in Kabul was whitewashed to cover up advertisements pasted on its outdoor walls, showing the faces of smiling women in bridal regalia.