The Afghan opposition alliance today joined an international chorus of condemnation of the Islamic Taliban for ordering the country's Hindu minority to wear yellow badges to identify themselves.
The Taliban's ruling, made earlier this week, has evoked memories of Nazi Germany when Jews were forced to wear yellow stars.
"We protest against this and condemn it strongly. Islamic laws have given freedom to the religious minorities and that should be observed," Mr Mohammad Asim Sohail, an anti-Taliban spokesman, said by a satellite phone from anopposition enclave in the northeast of the country.
Mr Sohail said the order was part of a move initiated by Taliban's supporter Pakistan to fan religious hatred in Afghanistan and its arch-rival India where Hindus are a majority.