Kabul residents on Tuesday spoke out about the vandalization by two masked men of the mural of Hamid Barmaki, a victim of a Hizb-e-Islami bombing, and said those involved in war crimes do not have the courage to face up to their deeds.

This comes a day after part of the mural of slain Barmaki was destroyed when white paint was thrown over it. 

The mural, painted by Kabul’s Artlords, went up on Sunday close to the home of Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.  

“Those individuals who kill the people do not have the courage now to face their crimes and see pictures of those they killed,” said one Kabul resident, Shamsuddin.

“These individuals are very oppressive, and they do not show mercy on anyone and now they do not want to be reminded of their crimes,” another resident, Wakeel Kohsar said. 

Eye witnesses at the scene meanwhile said two masked men wearing traditional clothing on Monday threw white paint over the mural.

Artists involved in painting the mural said reminding the people about war crimes in the country was among their priorities as they hoped this would help ensure justice is served. 

Barmaki was killed, along with her husband and four children, in a Hizb-e-Islami suicide bombing six years ago against Finest supermarket. 

The mural was painted by Artlords to mark International Women’s Day and to reflect crimes being carried out in the country.

Hizb-e-Islami’s spokesman was contacted for comment but refused to discuss the issue.