Influencer in Hot Water for Posting About Trip to Afghanistan
Social media influencers often find themselves embroiled in controversies. Recently, an American influencer has come under fire for her interactions with the Taliban.
Marian Abdi, known online as Geenyada Madow, documented her journey to Afghanistan with a series of posts. She visited Bamyan, a city famed for its Buddhist heritage and the site where two monumental Buddha statues were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. This location is now being developed as a tourist destination.
During her trip, Abdi posted images with Taliban leaders, sparking shock, disappointment, and anger. The Taliban’s recent vices and virtues directives ban women from public life, mandating full-body coverings and prohibiting them from engaging in most public activities, including education. Women can’t be heard singing, reciting, or reading in public and they are forbidden from looking at men who are not related to them. These are the latest restrictions since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. They had previously barred women from attending schools and instituted public flogging and stoning to death as punishment for women.
These oppressive measures have intensified the backlash against Abdi’s posts, including images in which she met Taliban leaders.
Met with the Tali*an #Afghanistan #afghan #kabul #travel #explore #viral #viral2024 pic.twitter.com/EidJwZ0y0y
— Geenyada Madow (@GeenyadaM) August 18, 2024
The controversy highlights the stark contrast between the freedoms Abdi enjoyed during her visit and the severe restrictions Afghan women face daily. Critics, including Twitter user Julie Millsap, have accused Abdi of exploiting her “foreign privilege.” Another user criticized her for seemingly endorsing the Taliban.
Did Geenyada Madow, during her travel in Afghanistan, see any Afghan woman like herself who travels alone or laughs with men?
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… https://t.co/9rmhxKQW0o pic.twitter.com/AADelm1eJ5
— Niloo Far Naeimi (@NilooFarNaeimi) August 21, 2024
Meanwhile, Abdi defended her actions by questioning the focus on her visit and pondering whether avoiding Afghanistan would alter the situation. Abdi, who is Black, pointed out that other content creators have also visited the country without facing similar criticism, questioning if her race might be influencing the backlash.
“Even if I didn’t take a photo with them, would that change anything?” wrote Abdi. “As a foreign tourist, I’m just interested in seeing the country. Yes, a lot is happening, but is that my fault? Other YouTubers have created content there, so why am I treated differently? And why bring race into this?”
I’m genuinely curious—what do you want me to do? Should I avoid visiting Afghanistan altogether? How do you expect a tourist to navigate politics with the Taliban? Even if I didn’t take a photo with them, would that change anything? As a foreign tourist, I’m just interested in… pic.twitter.com/ODpKd2qlry
— Geenyada Madow (@GeenyadaM) August 22, 2024
This isn’t the only case that has come to light about tourism to Afghanistan. British YouTuber Miles Routledge was arrested in March last year by the Taliban for traveling through the country—he was evacuated from the country in 2021 and decided to return. He spent eight months in captivity until he was released. He boasted about his “holiday” and stated that he would return. He also praised the Taliban leaders and posted pictures and videos with them, drawing ire from all over the world.
Related: The VERY Surprising Country Topping a 2024 Travel List Has a ‘Level 4’ Warning Against It
Interest in Afghanistan as a spot to participate in the growing trend of “danger tourism” or “dark tourism” has increased in recent years and multiple influencers have visited the nation.
The U.S. State Department, however, still has a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory due to “terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, civil unrest, kidnapping and crime.” The department does not have embassy operations in Kabul and the U.S. government won’t be able to offer emergency services. It implicitly explains that U.S. citizens should not travel to Afghanistan for any reason.
Related: Thanks to Afghanistan, I Finally Made it to My Dream Destination
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