Support trulyindependent journalism
Our mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth.
Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts.
Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda.
A social media influencer travelling through Afghanistan and posing with Taliban fighters has met with a backlash for her posts about the hardline regime as millions of girls and women are denied education, jobs, and other basic rights.
Somali-American influencer Marian Abdi, who goes by the name Geenyada Madow on her social media channels, was seen posting her photos and videos from Kabul, Bamyan, and other Afghan cities, mainly dressed in a full length burqa.
Several Afghan women pointed out their erasure from public spaces by the militants as Ms Abdi posted her videos marking Afghanistan as a tourist destination. One of her posts on X was captioned “Met with the Tali*an”, accompanied by the hashtag #viral2024. Social media users asked the TikTokerand YouTuber if she asked the Taliban why …