With Afghan nationalities making every possible desperate attempt to flee their country after the capture of the Taliban Islamist extremist group, and foreign countries evacuating staff from their embassies and other citizens, a former British Royal Marine owner of a animal sanctuary in Afghanistan has refused to follow suit. . Paul ‘Pen’ Farthing said he would not leave the war-torn country without his Afghan staff and immediate relatives.
Farthing, who served in the Royal Marine for 22 years, set up the “Nowzad” animal shelter in 2007 after his first rescue dog. Since then, she has trained a staff of 25 Afghan nationals who also include three of Afghanistan’s first female veterinarians.
Farthing has demanded that his staff and families be evacuated along with him and accepted as refugees in the UK. In an interview with Reuters news agency, he said: “My staff does not deserve the fate that awaits them if they stay here in Afghanistan.”
The Taliban had banned women from working under their previous regime two decades ago and had also refused to have dogs as pets.
Farthing said the shrine could suffer retaliation as it was funded with foreign aid. “I had the opportunity, the fact of being a British citizen, to use it to the fullest, so I said I would not go until my staff left this country,” he stated. Reuters.
Shortly after regaining control of Afghanistan, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said at a first press conference that women will be allowed to study and work but in accordance with Islamic law. “
“The Taliban are committed to providing women with their rights based on Islam. Women can work in the health sector and other sectors where they are needed. There will be no discrimination against women,” she said, and he added that women would be “happy in the framework of sharia.”
The extremist group has also said it will also allow non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to operate in Afghanistan.
Read also | Embassies and aid organizations will be safe in Kabul: the Taliban’s Mujahideen
Farthing noted that although the Taliban patrolled the streets of Kabul and their behavior was not “too kind,” there was a sense of calm around their community. He stressed that the most dangerous area was near the airport, where dozens of Afghan citizens are desperately trying to flee the country.
“You have the British and the Americans inside and then outside, you have this crowd of people; and then you have the Taliban checkpoints, ”Farthing said.
While the extremist group has projected a reformed vision this time around, ensuring the protection and rights of women and children, including allowing them to go to school and work, skepticism around these promises is featured on the global platform.
Canada has already said they will not accept the Taliban regime as the government of Afghanistan, as they replaced a democratic dispensation elected “by force.” On Friday, Japan also noted that it is not considering recognizing the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
Read also | Polls in Canada: All Parties Say Taliban-led Afghan government will not be recognized
Meanwhile, reports have already surfaced about the extremist group torturing Afghan citizens, especially women and children.
Los Angeles Times journalist Marcus Yam posted some of the images on Twitter on Wednesday and said insurgents opened fire to expel people from the airport, leaving at least half a dozen people injured, including a woman and the his son. Other images and videos also claimed that the fighters beat women and children while trying to flee the country.