Taliban ‘removed voters’ fingers’ for Voting in Afghan Election
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (Worthy News)– Eleven Afghans who participated in this weekend’s presidential runoff poll had their index fingers cut off by Taliban insurgents as punishment for voting.
The incident occurred in the western Herat province, officials said.
Earlier, the Taliban warned Afghans not to participate in Saturday’s election.
A series of Taliban attacks had killed more than 50 people during Saturday’s presidential runoff between former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai.
The United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan condemned the mutilations in Herat.
“Like millions of their countrymen and women, these ordinary Afghans were exercising their fundamental right to determine the future path of their country through voting and not through violence and intimidation,” said Jan Kubis, UN special representative, to the BBC.
“By their vote, they already defeated those who promote terror and violence.”
More than seven million votes were cast on Saturday according to estimates, roughly 60% of the country’s 12 million eligible voters.