- These women marched to the presidential palace but were stopped by the Taliban near the entrance of the Ministry of Finance.
- The protesters said the Taliban sprayed pepper spray and tear gas on them.
- One of the protesters was allegedly attacked by the Taliban.
On Saturday, dozens of women took to the streets of the capital, demanding work rights, a role in the future government, and seats for discussions with the Taliban.
The protest began with 50 women marching to the presidential palace.
However, 26-year-old Razia Barakzai said that these women were stopped near the entrance of the Ministry of Finance, and the Taliban “surrounded” them and prevented them from continuing to march towards the palace entrance.
Barakzai said the Taliban used pepper spray and tear gas to try to pay the crowd.
She told Al Jazeera:
We have always been calm, but they just want to stop us at all costs.
Saturday’s demonstrations marked at least the fourth time that women in Kabul and the western city of Herat have gathered together to demand their rights in a future government led by the Taliban. Barakzai said that the Taliban who were trying to surround the protesters carried red banners and carried guns.
“These are not ordinary Taliban troops,” she said.
According to Barakzai, the crowd was surrounded by the Taliban. The Taliban told them, “Go home, you are all alone.” However, it turns out that going out is equally difficult because the Taliban continue to surround them.
“It’s strange, they don’t want us to stay, but they don’t let us leave either.”
Read also | At least 17 people were killed in Kabul celebrations in gunfire-report
Barakzai also said that one of the women was attacked by the Taliban. Social media pictures showed a young woman bleeding on her head, and she claimed that the Taliban had attacked her.
Al Jazeera could not independently verify how she was injured.
Decision role
Barakzai, who has worked in government offices, said that the latest action was in response to a recent statement made by the senior Taliban leader Sher Mohamed Abbas Stanikzai, who said in an interview that women “may Will not have a place in high-level positions. The future government led by the Taliban.
“If we do not assume the government’s decision-making role or participate in negotiations with the Taliban, how can we have the rights they promised us,” Barakzai said.
At a press conference on August 17, the Taliban stated that the organization is “committed to safeguarding women’s rights within the framework of Sharia law. [Islamic law]. Our sisters, our men have the same rights; they will be able to benefit from their rights. They can carry out activities in different sectors and fields according to our rules and regulations: education, health and other fields. They will work with us, shoulder to shoulder with us. “
However, Barakzai stated that women have not seen any evidence that they are involved, nor have they explained how the Taliban will restrict women’s role in the workplace and in society as a whole. In addition, Barakzai said that when she and her comrades tried to meet with the Taliban to resolve women’s rights and participation issues, they were rejected.
she says:
They would make excuses that we didn’t have the right paperwork or that we didn’t arrive at the right time, but they didn’t seem to want to talk to us.
In recent weeks, the Taliban have sent mixed signals about the status of women in Afghan society. In late August, the organization’s spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that women working in the government should stay at home until they can ensure their safety on the streets and offices.
Mujahid said at a press conference on August 24: “We are worried that our new force might abuse women… God bless, we don’t want our troops to harm or harass women.”
He went on to say that women should stay at home and receive their wages before they are deemed safe to return to work.
Read also | The Taliban is about to form a new government in Afghanistan
This statement is compared with a similar statement made by Starnekzai when the Taliban first came to power in 1996.
Stanekzai, then Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, said that the Taliban leaders at the time “just told them [women] For the time being they shouldn’t come [the] Offices and schools…until we can come up with a certain solution, or we can provide them with a different place. “
That time never came. During their initial rule, the Taliban banned women from working except doctors and did not allow girls to go to school.
We want to hear your opinion on the news. Subscribe to news 24 Be part of the dialogue in the comments section of this article.
