Mujahideen Victory Day

Mujahideen Victory Day is a political holiday observed in Afghanistan, falling on the 28 April each year. It commemorates the day when the Afghan mujahideen overthrew the socialist government in Afghanistan in 1992.

Although celebrated as a holiday by the people of Afghanistan, Mujahedeen Victory Day is somewhat of a mixed bag as far as holidays go. The day commemorates the fall of the Communist government in Afghanistan in 1992, some 3 years after the Soviet Army actually left Afghanistan. While the expulsion of the Soviet Army in 1989 was a cause for celebration, the overthrow of the government in 1992 marked the turn from a civil war between the communist government and the mujahedeen militias to a war fought mainly between rival mujahedeen groups vying for power in the vacuum left behind. This remained the status quo until the Taliban’s eventual takeover with the fall of Kabul in 1996.

Current festivities

Afghans celebrating the holiday in 2007.

• 2007: Afghan President Hamid Karzai awarded medals to Jihadi veterans in commemoration of the holiday.^[1]
• 2006: Karzai gave a public speech at Kabul's Chaman-e-Hozori park^[2]
  • Also on Victory Day 2006, parliament deputy Malalai Joya stood to denounce mujahideen atrocities, and was threatened with death by other parliament deputies. Reporters without Borders journalist Omid Yakmanish was beaten by two parliamentarians while attempting to film the debate.^[3]

External links

• Press release by the Afghan Embassy in Tokyo on 2006 MVD

References

1. ^ Daoud Khan Men accused of war crimes by rights group likely to get medals OhmyNews, 25 April 2007
2. ^ Borhan Younus, Ilyas Wahdat and Naeem Kohistani Taliban steps up spring offensive Asia Times, 19 May 2006
3. ^ Members of parliament beat up cameramanReporters Without Borders 12 May 2006