Rare Protest by Afghan Women Dispersed by Taliban
Taliban security forces reportedly opened fire over the heads of women who staged a protest in Kabul on Sat. - two days before the first anniversary of the group coming to power in Afghanistan.
Facts
- Taliban security forces reportedly opened fire over the heads of women who staged a protest in Kabul on Sat. - two days before the first anniversary of the group coming to power in Afghanistan.
- Approximately 40 women marched through the capital demanding rights, with Taliban fighters seizing their mobile phones. The protesters chanted demands for "bread, work, and freedom" carrying a banner stating "August 15 is a bad day."
- Protesters who took refuge in nearby shops were reportedly beaten with rifles and chased by the Taliban. An AFP correspondent reported that some journalists covering the demonstration were also beaten.
- One demonstrator stated "we will not let the Taliban silence our voices" and that "we will protest from our homes." Protests over women's rights have become increasingly rare in the last year.
- Since the Taliban have retaken power, tens of thousands of girls have been shut out of secondary schools while women have been barred from returning to or taking government jobs.
- In May, women were ordered to fully cover themselves in public, decisions that have been criticized by the UN as well as nongovernmental organizations including Human Rights Watch.
Sources: NPR Online News, BBC News, Guardian, Euro News, and Al Jazeera.
Narratives
- Republican narrative, as provided by Spectator. The current attacks on women's rights in Afghanistan are a direct result of the Biden administration's decision to withdraw from the country. His administration may express rhetoric about women's rights, but it has no way of enforcing them without troops on the ground to guarantee humanitarian security.
- Democratic narrative, as provided by Vox. An indefinite US presence wasn't possible in Afghanistan, and Afghan security forces haven't been able to guarantee the hard-fought gains for women's rights during US involvement. This is a tragic situation, but Republicans need to take responsibility for the unfavorable agreement brokered by former President Trump that created the groundwork for the catastrophe in Afghanistan.
