In the Afghan capital, Kabul, some two dozen women and girls demonstrated against ongoing restrictions on their rights by the radical Islamist Taliban. “Bread, work, freedom,” they chanted, referring to the economic situation in Afghanistan and the enormous restrictions on their professional freedom. The women also demonstrated for free access to education, regardless of their gender.
“Education is my right! Open the schools again,” they shouted outside the education ministry. The protesters, most of whom had their faces veiled, marched for several hundred meters and eventually stopped in front of plainclothes Taliban fighters, a correspondent reported. “We wanted to read a statement, but the Taliban wouldn’t allow it,” said protester Sholia Parsi. The Taliban stole cell phones from some girls and prevented protesters from taking photos and videos of their protest.
More restrictions
In the summer of 2021, when all US and NATO soldiers were withdrawn, the Taliban regained power in the country after nearly 20 years. After initially announcing less strict rules than during their reign from 1996 to 2001, they have been imposing increasing restrictions on girls and women in recent months.
Tens of thousands of girls have been banned from high school classes. Women are no longer allowed to hold many jobs in government agencies. Since the beginning of May, women have had to cover themselves completely in public, at most their eyes are still visible. In addition, women are no longer allowed to travel alone and are only allowed to enter public parks on certain days when there are no men.
Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada recently said that women should always stay at home. Internationally, the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights have come under sharp criticism.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
