Several residents of Herat are complaining about the increase in thefts in the city. They say that in addition to the theft of their property, the safety and security of people’s lives has also faced a serious threat. According to them, this situation has created widespread concerns among residents, particularly when commuting between home and workplace. This comes as the Taliban have repeatedly claimed to have established security across the country and to have significantly reduced criminal offenses.
Ahmad (pseudonym), an employee at one of Herat city’s restaurants whose motorcycle was recently stolen, says: “I worked hard to buy this motorcycle, but I lost it in a matter of moments. Now I face difficulty commuting to work and am forced to pay extra expenses. What worries me more is that a person does not know where in this city their property will be safe. When such incidents happen, people no longer believe the claims of security, nor do they feel financially or physically secure.”
Mehrad (pseudonym), a resident of Herat city’s seventh district, also says that a few days ago, thieves took his car right in front of his eyes. He says the incident happened within a short period of time, and he was unable to stop it.
This Herat resident says: “When you lose your property right in front of your own eyes, and there’s nothing you can do about it, it leaves you feeling unsafe. Now, even in the area where I live, I no longer feel the same sense of calm I used to.”
Mehrad adds that the continuation of such incidents has caused people to feel less secure than before and has left them unable to move around the city with peace of mind.
These concerns are being raised as, in the most recent case, armed individuals attacked the Bahar Market in the Darb-e Malik area of Herat city, killing the market’s guard, wounding his son, and taking the goods of six shops with them. According to reports, the thieves, who were dressed in plain clothes, initially identified themselves as Taliban intelligence forces.
Also, in recent days, an individual armed with a knife stole a woman’s mobile phone in Herat city. This incident has raised concerns and prompted numerous reactions on social media.
This comes as the Taliban have repeatedly claimed to have established security in Afghanistan and to have eliminated the conditions that give rise to criminal offenses. However, citizens of Afghanistan have expressed serious concern over the rise in criminal offenses and armed robberies, saying that their lives and property are not safe.
Some citizens of Afghanistan, expressing concern over the spread of theft and criminal offenses, emphasize that the lack of job opportunities, severe poverty, persistent unemployment, and the absence of meritocracy in state institutions under Taliban control are among the factors contributing to the rise in theft. According to them, the Taliban only hire individuals in state institutions who are affiliated with the group, and in the private sector, as well, job opportunities face numerous restrictions.
At the same time, according to them, widespread unemployment among women has added to the problem of poverty and hunger, causing an increase in economic hardship within society. On the other hand, they claim that some individuals affiliated with the Taliban are involved in these thefts, support the thieves, or directly engage in armed robberies themselves.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
افزایش دزدیها در هرات؛ باشندهگان از ناامنی جانی و مالی شکایت دارند
