Taliban declare August 28 a public holiday across Afghanistan
The Taliban administration has announced that Wednesday, August 28, will be a public holiday across Afghanistan to mark the 107th anniversary of the country’s independence.
The announcement comes after the Taliban earlier declared Friday, August 24, a public holiday as the day of the “victory over the occupation of the United States and its allies,” with ceremonies held in Kabul and several provinces to mark the occasion.
Despite declaring a holiday for Independence Day, the Taliban administration in recent years has not referred in its official narratives to the role of former Afghan king Amanullah Khan in the observance. During the period of its rule, the way the name and status of Amanullah Khan have been treated has also changed.
At the same time, reports in recent years have said that a number of young people in different provinces were arrested and jailed for raising the national flag and posting it on social media, an act that has drawn criticism on national occasions.
Amanullah Khan declared Afghanistan’s independence from British colonial rule 107 years ago. August 28 is recognized in Afghanistan’s political calendar as Independence Day and has been commemorated every year with official and public events.
