Hundreds rally against dropping religion from ID cards

KABUL): Hundreds of people on Saturday staged a protest in the capital Kabul against not mentioning words Afghan and religion in new computerized national identity cards.

Earlier in March this year, comprised of seven chapters and 39 articles, the draft of census law was sent to the National Assembly by the Ministry of Justice. After some amendments, the Wolesi Jirga — Upper House for approval on June 19 this year.

But recently, the Upper House approved the draft law and decided not mentioning of nick name of individuals, words Afghan and religion in new computerized national identity cards.

Hundreds of angry protesters started walk from Dehmazang locality of Kabul to the National Assembly to register their strong protest against the decision of the Meshrano Jirga.

Organized by Tehrik-i-Millie Afghanistan, the protestors demanded inclusion of words “Afghans and religion” in the computerized national identity cards, saying the exclusion of the two words were against Afghans and Islamic principles.  

Shafiullah Hotak, a protestor, said: “We are Muslim and Islam is our religion. The words religion and nationality should be included in the new computerized identity cards.”

He told Pajhwok Afghan News their protest would go on until the acceptance of their legitimate demands.

Another protestor, Mohammad Asif Wardak, said: “Those individuals preferred to exclude the words religion and Afghans from the new national identity cards are the agents of Iran and Pakistan.”

The fiery demonstrators were chanting slogans as “death to foreign agents” when they were getting closer to the National Assembly building.

However, Mohammad Naeem Lalai Hamidzai, member of the lower house, assured the angry protesters he would convey their demands and raise his voice in the Wolesi Jirga.

He said other lawmakers held comprehensive deliberations over the disputed parts of the new computerized identity cards in their today’s session, adding they were trying to find out a suitable solution to the problem.

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