epa11664142 Farishte (L), a retired public school teacher, and her husband Sardar, a retired officer from the Ministry of Defense, sit at their home in Kabul, Afghanistan, 16 October 2024 (issued 17 October 2024). Afghanistan's pension system has been abolished by the Taliban in 2024, as their spiritual leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, deemed it 'un-Islamic' due to its involvement with interest. Sardar, a former Ministry of National Defense employee, expressed despair over his unpaid pension after 40 years of service, stating, 'We spend our days and nights with difficulty'. Similarly, Fereshte, a retired teacher, described her dire situation after her pension was halted, revealing, 'I have lost hope and currently have no income'. As winter approaches, numerous families, especially those previously supported by female breadwinners, face mounting hardships, prompting aid organizations to call for urgent assistance to avert further suffering. EPA/SAMIULLAH POPAL ATTENTION: This Image is part of a PHOTO SET
AFGHANISTAN PHOTO SET PENSIONERS
AFGHANISTAN PHOTO SET PENSIONERS
epa11664142 Farishte (L), a retired public school teacher, and her husband Sardar, a retired officer from the Ministry of Defense, sit at their home in Kabul, Afghanistan, 16 October 2024 (issued 17 October 2024). Afghanistan's pension system has been abolished by the Taliban in 2024, as their spiritual leader, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, deemed it 'un-Islamic' due to its involvement with interest. Sardar, a former Ministry of National Defense employee, expressed despair over his unpaid pension after 40 years of service, stating, 'We spend our days and nights with difficulty'. Similarly, Fereshte, a retired teacher, described her dire situation after her pension was halted, revealing, 'I have lost hope and currently have no income'. As winter approaches, numerous families, especially those previously supported by female breadwinners, face mounting hardships, prompting aid organizations to call for urgent assistance to avert further suffering. EPA/SAMIULLAH POPAL ATTENTION: This Image is part of a PHOTO SET
foto SAMIULLAH POPAL
FotoID: HN:20241017747576