Travel influencer's fangirl moment with Taliban fighters goes viral, netizens call it 'shameful'

A travel influence was brutally slammed on social media when she posted her 'fangirl moment' with Taliban fighters whom she met during her trip to Afghanistan.

The image was posted soon after a woman was sentenced to death by stoning in the country and the basic rights of many women and girls were denied by the Taliban.

Somali American influencer Marian Abdi, whose online name is Geenyada Madow, was criticised when she posted the image and said that visiting the country was a “dream come true", reported Afghan newspaper 8AM Media.

“This country is recovering from 40 years of war and turmoil. Over the next few days, I will share my experiences here in Afghanistan, including insights into the people, the food, and the overall culture,” the influencer wrote in her post and shared her photo in front of an “I heart Afghanistan” sign.

Met with the Tali*an 🇦🇫 #Afghanistan #afghan #kabul #travel #explore #viral #viral2024 pic.twitter.com/EidJwZ0y0y — Geenyada Madow (@GeenyadaM) August 18, 2024

The backlash turned severe when she posted her smiling photo with Taliban fighters who were holding AK-47s.

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Defending her photo after the backlash, Abdi said, “I ended up asking for a photo and I did take a photo with them and I posted it on Twitter and it’s just outrage — like people are going crazy, [saying] ‘Shame on you, you’re against women’s rights, women’s education, women’s jobs.' That’s not the case — this photo was just to simply say this is my experience, this is what I saw, this is how they treated me."

Here's how social media users and activists reacted to the photo

Commenting on the photo, a user said, "That's a level of foreign privilege, tbh. While they oppress women, who would never be invited to show their faces in a photo with them."

"Anything for likes and retweets. So shameful," wrote another user Ali Rehman Malik.

"I'm so confused. These same men, you stand by smiling like you won a prize, restrict their women from doing exactly what you're doing. Travelling, blogging, being educated, working, travelling! If u lived in Afghanistan u would be at home asking for permission to even step outside!" said a third user.

Watch:Taliban issue a ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public

Meanwhile, the activists asked her to question the Taliban over the atrocities they have unleashed on women.

“ln a time when Afghan girls and women are deprived of their most basic rights, it is deeply troubling and unacceptable to see someone like Geenyada Madow, who has gone to Afghanistan and lobbies for the Taliban,” said Niloofar Naeimi, who is a human rights activist on Afghan women’s issues.

“This action disregards the suffering and pain of millions of Afghan women who face oppression and persecution under the Taliban’s rule,” she said.

Another activist Nilofar Ayoubi said, “An Afghan woman has been sentenced to be executed by stoning death while Miss Madow fangirling on the Taliban. While her visit to Afghanistan and her content creation about our country and culture are highly appreciated, what is not welcomed and, in fact, appalling, is the picture she’s painting of the Taliban!”

(With inputs from agencies)