Taliban officials ‘rack up £125,000 in British parking tickets – but use international treaty to avoid paying’
- Read more: Taliban and Iranian troops exchange heavy gunfire across border
Taliban officials have reportedly racked up £125,000 in British parking tickets – but are using an international treaty as a loophole to avoid paying.
Afghan diplomats are said to have regularly left vehicles on double yellow lines or parking spaces without the correct permit.
In total, the number of unpaid fines are estimated to total more than 1,000.
The central London councils of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham say they are owed nearly £1million in unpaid fines from all diplomats.
However, it is the Afghan embassy who are the worst offenders as they are said to owe £104,300 alone to Westminster council.
Taliban officials have reportedly racked up £125,000 in British parking tickets [File image]
Pictured: The Afghan embassy which is the worst offender for parking fines
However, under the Vienna Convention foreign diplomats are exempt from prosecution and cannot be taken to court.
And it has even been rumoured that the number of fines could be higher but parking wardens aren’t bothering writing tickets as they know there will be no payment.
Hugh Bladon, of the Alliance of British Drivers, told The Sun: ‘Why should some embassy staff think they can park where they like for free?
‘If they refuse to pay maybe we should deduct the cost from their aid budget.’
The Taliban government seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 and last month ordered beauty parlours across the country to shut in their latest crackdown on women’s rights in the country.
The order will force the closure of thousands of businesses run by women and outlaw one of the few remaining opportunities for them to socialise away from home.
Source: Read Full Article
