In the western Afghan city of Herat, dozens of women protested yesterday against their ban from the country’s universities. With slogans like “Education is our right,” they took to the streets in small groups, a demonstrator told the German Press Agency.
The women gathered in front of the provincial governor’s office. The Taliban then broke up the protests with water cannons and batons, it said. Videos on social networks showed a fire truck spraying the demonstrators with a liquid.
The Taliban showed an increased military presence in the capital Kabul yesterday. There, too, dozens of women demonstrated against the recently imposed university ban on Thursday. At least one of the women has reportedly been missing since then.
NGO employees threatened with suspension
Furthermore, employees of all national and international non-governmental organizations are to be suspended from their work until further notice. The state’s Ministry of Economic Affairs demanded this in a letter yesterday. The reason for this is that the women did not comply with the regulations of the Taliban leadership in relation to wearing a hijab, i.e. a headscarf. If an organization does not comply with this order, its license will be revoked, the letter said.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “deeply concerned” on Twitter yesterday. This ban on women will disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. “Women play a central role in humanitarian relief efforts around the world,” said Blinken. Such a decision could have devastating consequences for the people of Afghanistan.
Since taking power in August 2021, the Islamists have massively restricted women’s rights in Afghanistan. Many women were not allowed to return to their jobs. Girls and women are now largely excluded from public life. On Tuesday, the Taliban banned women from all universities. In the past, women who protested for their rights were repeatedly detained, sometimes for several weeks.
