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                Afghans Protest Islamic State Group's Brutality

   by Ayaz Gul

   Thousands of angry Afghans are protesting in Kabul Wednesday against
   the beheading earlier this week of seven civilians, including three
   women, by militants allegedly linked to Islamic State (IS).

   The victims, members of the minority Shi'ite Hazara ethnic community,
   were kidnapped more than a month ago and authorities found their
   headless corpses in the southern Zabul province this past Sunday.

   The demonstrators carrying the coffins marched through the streets of
   the Afghan capital despite heavy rain and cold weather before gathering
   in front of the presidential palace.

   They were chanting anti-government slogans and demanded security and
   safety for civilians. Afghan television stations carried live coverage
   of the massive rally.

   Protesters also chanted "Down with Taliban" and "Down with Daesh,"
   using the Arabic acronym for IS.

   Rally participants also called for President Ashraf Ghani and his chief
   executive, Abdullah Abdullah, to step down, accusing them of neglecting
   the victims after they were kidnapped.

   A large number of women are also among the protesters in Kabul and they
   have vowed not to disperse until their demands are met.

   Protest rallies were also reported in other parts of Afghanistan.

   The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned
   the murder of the seven civilians.

   ''

   A statement issued Wednesday quoted UNAMA chief Nicholas Haysom as
   saying that the deliberate murder of civilian hostages, including women
   and children, is particularly abhorrent.

   "These senseless murders may amount to war crimes and the perpetrators
   must be held accountable," Haysom said, adding the U.N. Mission
   expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

   President Ghani also has condemned the brutal killings and has ordered
   authorities to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to
   justice.

   The Islamic State group, which controls large parts in Iraq and Syria,
   is slowly extending its influence in parts of Afghanistan.

   Some in Afghanistan have accused the Taliban of carrying out the
   beheading of the civilians. A spokesman of the Islamist insurgency,
   Zabihullah Mujahid, when contacted, told VOA the Taliban has nothing to
   do with the incident.

   Instead, he claimed its fighters have taken action against Daesh
   insurgents responsible for the violence and have eliminated them from
   Zabul.

   Mujahid went on to assert that deadly clashes in the Afghan province
   over the past week were not between Taliban rival factions as had been
   reported in the media.

   They were between Taliban and Daesh fighters to punish the rebels for
   committing atrocities against Afghan civilians, he added.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/afghans-protest-islamic-state-group-b
   rutality/3052938.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/afghans-protest-islamic-state-group-brutality/3052938.html