Misleading: Afghan Volleyball Player Beheaded by Taliban
The Claim
An Afghan female volleyball player was beheaded by the Taliban.
News posted on
Emerging story
A viral claim on social media that the Taliban beheaded an Afghani female volleyball player Mahjabin Hakimi, as a message to discourage other female athletes.
Misbar’s Analysis
The Misbar team investigated the claims. A journalist who had spoken to the family confirmed that the news was misleading.
While another journalist stated that Mahjabin committed suicide ten days before Kabuls takeover by the Taliban, Mahjabin's father spoke to Aamaj news. He proclaimed that the Taliban did not kill his daughter.
This was also reemphasized by Raihana Hashimi, who knew the deceased personally.
Mahjabin's father also confirmed that she passed away on August 6, 2021. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 17, 2021. This ensures that she died before the Taliban held power in the country. Mahjabin’s brother posted a black picture on August 7 on his Facebook page.
Although the Misbar team could not confirm the cause of death, it becomes clear that she passed away before the Taliban took over Afghanistan. However, she was not beheaded by the Taliban in October. Therefore, the claim is misleading.
