KABUL: Following a crackdown by Taliban authorities that drove activists off the streets, small groups of Afghan women celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday with rare demonstrations in private settings.
Since regaining control of the country in August 2021, the group has enforced a rigid interpretation of Islam, with restrictions on women being the main target of what the UN has called “gender apartheid”.
Public life for women has been severely constrained, with prohibitions on travel without a male relative, restrictions on employment, education, and access to recreational facilities such as parks and gyms.
Despite the challenges, a few women in various provinces assembled to advocate for the lifting of these restrictions, as reported by activists from the Purple Saturdays group, which protests against Taliban-imposed limitations on women’s rights.
In Takhar province, images circulated by activists depicted seven women holding signs advocating for “Rights, Justice, Freedom”, while in Balkh province, others held banners with messages such as “Don’t give the Taliban a chance” and “Save Afghanistan Women”.
However, there were no reports of public protests by women by Friday afternoon.
On Thursday, around 20 women convened at an event organized by the Afghanistan Association of the Blind in Mazar-i-Sharif city, where one attendee expressed the pain of the current situation, emphasizing the need for women to reclaim their rights and place in society.
Moreover, the Independent Coalition of Afghanistan Women’s Protest Movement issued a statement on Thursday demanding urgent action from the international community to address the blatant violation of human rights and atrocities committed against Afghan women by the Taliban.
The UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, echoed these concerns on Friday, urging the Taliban government to ease restrictions on women and girls, warning that failure to do so could lead to further economic hardship and isolation for the country.
Despite international criticism, Taliban authorities have consistently dismissed such concerns, with spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid labeling recent reports by the UN as “propaganda”.
Women have sporadically protested against Taliban-imposed rules, often in small, indoor gatherings, fearing reprisals following the detention of several activists for extended periods.
