Mujahideen Victory Day|Afghanistan Festivals

Members of the Afghan Armed Forces marching during the 2010 Mujahideen Victory Day parade in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Mujahideen Victory Day is a political holiday observed in all parts of Afghanistan, falling on the 28 April each year. It commemorates the day when Mujahideen rebel forces overthrew Mohammad Najibullah's Democratic Republic of Afghanistan in 1992. It is celebrated mostly by former mujahideen and by the Muslim people of Afghanistan. Some minority of Afghans are against celebrating the day because it marks the start of civil war.

##Current festivities

• 2012: Cancelled due to security reason, threats by Taliban insurgents.
• 2007: Afghan President Hamid Karzai awarded medals to Mujahideen veterans in commemoration of the holiday.
• 2006: Karzai gave a public speech at Kabul's Chaman-e-Hozori park
  • Also on Victory Day 2006, parliament deputy, former communist and pro Soviet Malalai Joya stood to denounce so called mujahideen atrocities, and was threatened with death by other parliament deputies. Reporters without Borders journalist Omid Yakmanish was beaten by two parliamentarians while attempting to film the debate.