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Afghanistan: Karzai, U.S. condemn mass beheadings

Publisher Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Publication Date 28 August 2012
Cite as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Afghanistan: Karzai, U.S. condemn mass beheadings, 28 August 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5040b01b1e.html [accessed 5 June 2023]
DisclaimerThis is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.

August 28, 2012

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has condemned the mass beheadings of 17 Afghan civilians in southern Helmand Province.

In a written statement, Karzai called the killings an "unforgivable" crime in complete defiance of Islamic teachings.

The statement said resorting to such acts "clearly demonstrates that the enemy is desperate and in disarray."

U.S. officials have also condemned the beheadings, with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul calling them a "shameful act," and U.S. General John Allen, the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, describing the killers as "cowards."

Taliban militants are suspected of carrying out the massacre, whose victims included two women.

Some reports said the victims had staged a music and dance party before the slayings.

Other reports said they were suspected of working against the Taliban.

Link to original story on RFE/RL website

Copyright notice: Copyright (c) 2007-2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036

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