Women Protest Taliban Restrictions In Kabul Ahead Of Int’l Women’s Day

Members of the Afghanistan Women’s Freedom Lantern Movement gathered on a street in the capital ahead of International Women’s Day to protest restrictions imposed by the Taliban and to call for the protection of their fundamental rights.

In a statement, the movement said this year’s International Women’s Day comes as the crisis of women’s rights in Afghanistan has entered a deeper and more systematic phase.

It said sweeping restrictions on girls’ education, bans on women’s employment and the suppression of protests have placed millions of women under unprecedented pressure.

The statement added that Afghan women are now fighting not only for their basic rights but also to preserve their identity, dignity and presence in society.

The protesters urged the international community to prioritise practical, targeted and sustained support for Afghan women.

The movement also said political engagement with Afghanistan’s current rulers should not take place without consideration of women’s fundamental rights.

The protesters called for international accountability mechanisms to address widespread violations of women’s rights.

In recent years, the Taliban have harshly suppressed women’s street protests. Several female protesters have been detained, and reports of torture have emerged.

Despite widespread restrictions and repression, women occasionally take to the streets to protest Taliban policies and strict regulations targeting them.

International Women’s Day is observed on Sunday, March 8. Since returning to power, the Taliban have rolled back many of women’s rights in Afghanistan, gradually excluding them from public life.

Women have been stripped of basic rights, including the right to work, education and participation in political and social life. They are also barred from working in many institutions, including international organisations.