Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Afghanistan’s political and moral landscape has changed sharply. Although the group’s founder, Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid, died years ago, he remains a powerful symbolic figure. The death of his mother became more than a private event and sparked strong reactions on Afghan social media. This short study looks at Facebook comments responding to death announcements by ToloNews and Afghanistan International in Pashto and Dari. These reactions offer a clear window into how Afghans today think about the Taliban, responsibility for violence, and the lasting impact of war and trauma on public discourse.
Read the full study here.