A group of women staged a demonstration in the city of Kabul on Thursday, November 24. They chanted, “Women, Life, Solidarity,” and asked the Taliban to stop their violence and restrictions directed toward women. At the same time, the protesters called on all Afghan women to stand up for their rights by breaking the chains of captivity and to never cease their struggles.
Mobina*, one of the participants, tells Zan Times, “We are removed from society every day. The Taliban impose more restrictions on us every day. We can no longer tolerate it.” Video obtained by Zan Times shows the Taliban unlocking their weapons so as to threaten and disperse the women.
Since the Taliban came to power, they have banned all protests and severely repress anyone who organizes or takes part in demonstrations. In January 2022, Human Rights Watch documented their violent crackdown on women protesters in Kabul. Those who still attempt to demonstrate are beaten, pepper sprayed and threatened with weapons.
At the same time, protests continue, especially by women. After regaining power, the Taliban enacted discriminatory laws against women, which prevented women from having the right to education, the right to work, travel, attend public parks and sports centres, travel without a male companion and, in the latest case, from going to public women’s bathhouses.
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the interviewees.
