Influencers and content creators are facing backlash for ‘Taliban tourism’, accused of accepting paid trips to militant-ruled Afghanistan.
Despite Afghanistan being ruled by the Taliban since 2021, international tour companies and travel bloggers have promoted visits highlighting the country’s scenery, food and hospitality.
On Thursday morning’s episode of The Briefing, we talked to two Afghan women, Senator Fatima Payman and former worker in Afghanistan’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Nasima Kakaea, to discuss the controversial tourism trend.
Advocates say these trips offer a curated version of Afghanistan that does not reflect the reality for women and girls.
Senator Payman said the content risked serving as propaganda.
“It’s very concerning that this propaganda campaign is going on,” she said.
“The Taliban are potentially trying to polish their global image…while completely neglecting the human rights abuses against women and girls. And we cannot ignore that barbarity.”
Kakae also echoed the worrying trend, claiming that influencers were escorted and shown only what the regime wanted.
“They always show the picture of Afghanistan, the best views, the hotels, the food, the hospitality,” she said.
“But have they ever gone to the shut doors of schools and asked why girls cannot study? No.”
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