17 people beheaded by Taliban for going to mixed-sex partyAugust 27, 2012 - 11:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Fifteen men and two women were found beheaded in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province on Monday, Aug 27, a punishment meted out by Taliban insurgents for a mixed-sex party with music and dancing, officials said. According to Reuters, the bodies were found in a house near the Musa Qala district, about 75 km (46 miles) north of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah, said district governor Nimatullah, who only goes by one name. "The victims threw a late-night dance and music party when the Taliban attacked" on Sunday night, Nimatullah said. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. In ultra-conservative Afghanistan, men and women do not usually mingle unless they are related, and parties involving both genders together are rare and highly secretive affairs. For the Taliban, flirting, open displays of affection and the mixing of men and women are vehemently condemned. According to witnesses of a major attack that killed 20 near Kabul in June, Taliban gunmen stormed a high-end hotel demanding to know where the "prostitutes and pimps" were. The Taliban said it launched that attack on Qarga Lake because the hotel was used for "wild parties". During their five-year reign, which was toppled by U.S.-backed Afghan forces in 2001, sparking the present NATO-led war, the Taliban banned women from voting, most work and leaving their homes unaccompanied by their husband or a male relative. Though those rights have been painstakingly regained, Afghanistan remains one of the worst places on earth to be a woman. Helmand governor spokesman Daud Ahmadi said a team had been sent to the site of beheadings to investigate. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |