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Taliban cuts off ears of 4 workers
They were punished for working with foreigners
By Farzad Lameh
2011-03-15
KABUL – The Taliban cut both ears off each of four men working on a development project in Zherai District, Kandahar Province March 10.
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![In this March 12 TV framegrab, a man receives treatment at a Kandahar hospital after Taliban militants cut off his ear. Militants cut off the ears of four workers March 10. [Farzad Lameh]](/shared/images/2011/03/15/ears-218_172.jpg)
In this March 12 TV framegrab, a man receives treatment at a Kandahar hospital after Taliban militants cut off his ear. Militants cut off the ears of four workers March 10. [Farzad Lameh]
![In this March 12 TV framegrab, a man receives treatment at a Kandahar hospital after Taliban militants cut off his ear. Militants cut off the ears of four workers March 10. [Farzad Lameh]](/shared/images/2011/03/15/ears.jpg)
“We asked the gunmen for mercy and our release, but they … took a knife and started cutting off our ears,” a 70-year-old survivor said. “They broke my dentures too, because they hit my face so hard.”
“Before they start cutting our ears, they wanted to behead us because of our work with the foreigners,” Ali Ahmad, one of the victims said. “But we told them we are poor suffering people who came here to work.
The men told the Pajhwok Afghan News agency they were building shops at the Zheray district bazaar, part of a reconstruction programme, and earning 500 Afghanis (US $11) a day. They said they were on their way back to a refugee camp when they were abducted.
The kidnappers also beat up their victims before freeing them, Haji Niaz Muhammad Sarhadi, governor of Zherai District, told Central Asia Online.
“Before they start cutting our ears, they wanted to behead us because of our work with the foreigners,” Ali Ahmad, one of the victims said.
One of the men, 17-year-old Mohammad Amin told Pajhwok he wishes he had been killed because his life has been ruined by the mutilation. He said the Taliban suggested they work for them cultivating poppy fields.
About 3,000 people have relocated to Zherai to work on construction projects, Sarhadi said.
The Afghan parliament condemned the four men’s maiming and demanded authorities immediately track down their assailants.
Abdul Rahim Ayubi, a member of the lower chamber of parliament, described the incident as anti-Islamic.
“They (militants) who cut off (the men’s) ears are not Muslims because a Muslim never does this,” Ayubi said. “I strongly condemn this action.”
“This is not the first time (ear amputations have happened),” Jamil Karzai, a former MP, told Central Asia Online. “It is a cowardly and cruel act by the Taliban and their supporters.”
Amputations and stoning of women have often been attributed to Taliban militants in Afghanistan, who give themselves the authority to prosecute, convict and punish suspected offenders.
A Taliban spokesman denied they were responsible for maiming the men.
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![A potter puts the final touches on an earthen flowerpot before sending it to the kiln for baking in Peshawar May 22. [Zahir Shah]](/shared/images/2013/05/24/pakpot-230_184.jpg?1369394104)
A potter puts the final touches on an earthen flowerpot before sending it to the kiln for baking in Peshawar May 22. [Zahir Shah]
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the taliban should stop violence and stop the blame game that is being played time and again.
Taliban urged to stop election violenceKanwar
People had voted for change. Now the new Government in the country will bring the change. They had performed good in the past, for sure the will perform well now too. PML N Zindabad, Pakistan Zindabad. The corrept people has been packed by the people. This time superior court has played a ver...
Young voters bring energy to Pakistani electionaamirjoyia
We need more vote for Pakistan and it is possible with education, there is no meaning of Pakistan other than reading and writing
Pakistani democracy defeats Taliban
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Reader Comments
Islam is the religion of peace and freedom,but to day we are instructed negatively,thats why all side angles of life reflected negative response to us.Our mind has been captured by some other wisdom people,who are using us.
umair, you need to go to mental hospital immediately. Spring is coming, and complications are possible.
In my opinion, the ones who commit this sin, aren't aware of the path of Islam. Islam doesn't say that the innocent and poor people who go out in the morning to earn the daily bread for their family in righteous way (HALAL), should be forced by rascals and villains and different groups to do inhumane and unislamic things. Look at this poor and oppressed man whose ear is cut by guys who claim to be Muslims! However, these people want to defame Islam in the world.
The Taliban are not human , they are leftover fecal matter drifting aimlessly in the Afghan deserts. They claim to be Muslim, but the devil comes in many disguises. They kill women and small children out of fear. Each and every true Muslim in the world must say a silent prayer to Allah, asking Him to rid mankind of this curse, the Taliban. - Mikael
I realy amuse with that .