Taliban Mark Fourth Year in Power with Flower Displays Amid Deepening Repression

The Taliban marked the fourth anniversary of their return to power with public displays of celebration, even as rights groups and activists condemned the ongoing repression, particularly against women and girls.

In Kabul, defense ministry helicopters flew over the city, showering flowers on crowds gathered to commemorate the movement’s return to power in August 2021. Large gatherings, fireworks, and flag displays were staged in several cities, with one of the focal points being the area near the former U.S. embassy.

According to local media, thousands of men attended, while women were barred from all official anniversary events in keeping with the group’s strict public restrictions.

The commemorations came on the heels of a diplomatic breakthrough for the Taliban: Russia recently became the first United Nations member state to officially recognize their government, accepting their appointed ambassador. While the move marks a symbolic victory, most of the international community continues to withhold recognition, citing human rights abuses and the exclusion of women from public life.

Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada used the anniversary to issue a statement urging Afghans to remain grateful for what he called “Islamic governance,” warning of divine punishment for ingratitude. .He also instructed government officials to drop the “acting” designation from their titles, signaling an effort to consolidate administrative authority.

Outside the official celebrations, dissenting voices were heard. The United Afghan Women’s Movement for Freedom staged protests in Afghanistan’s Takhar province and in Islamabad, Pakistan, calling the date “an open wound of history” and a grim reminder of the freedoms lost since the Taliban takeover.

Four years on, the Taliban’s rule has brought sweeping restrictions: girls are barred from school beyond sixth grade, women are excluded from most jobs, and they face bans from public parks, gyms, and travel without a male guardian. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for senior Taliban leaders, including Akhundzada, over allegations of crimes against humanity for the systemic persecution of women and girls.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis has worsened. Aid cuts, economic collapse, and food shortages have left millions facing hunger, with child malnutrition rates at alarming levels. Rights organizations say the anniversary is less a celebration than a stark reminder of the country’s deepening isolation and the urgent need for international action.