Women march in a rare protest in Kabul's streets — and face violence from the Taliban August 13, 2022 ~~ DIAA HADID

 https://www.npr.org/2022/08/13/1117344779/women-protest-kabul-taliban-violence

~~ recommended by emil karpo ~~

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Women march down a main street in Kabul on Saturday, two days before the one-year anniversary of the Taliban takeover.

KABUL, Afghanistan – Taliban security forces opened fire over the heads of women who staged a rare protest in Kabul on Saturday — a violent crackdown coming just two days ahead of the one-year anniversary of the group sweeping to power in Afghanistan.

There were no immediate reports of injuries.

About two dozen women marched down a main street of Kabul chanting "bread, work, freedom," "we want political participation" and "no to enslavement."

 

 

 

The protesters unfurled a large banner announcing the anniversary of the Taliban's resumption of power as a day of solidarity with Afghan women. They also demanded the international community step up to help them.

 

 

 

Protesters in Kabul Saturday marked the anniversary of the Taliban's resumption of power as a day of solidarity with Afghan women. The protesters also demanded the international community step up to help them.

Diaa Hadid/NPR

As the women marched, Taliban security forces began grabbing the phones and cameras of Afghan journalists and male international correspondents. They grabbed the phone of a boy on a bicycle who tried to take a photo.

 

 

 

In Kabul, a new ritual: Hungry women wait for bread outside bakeries

Then, in what appeared to be a coordinated move, they opened fire in the air above the protesters, quickly dispersing them. Taliban security forces have used live fire to disperse protests in the past. But the fire this time was unusually intense: Multiple gunmen fired rapidly in the air, leaving bullet casings strewn across the street.

Several reporters were detained, and at least three remain in custody. Taliban security forces tried to find the owner of a camera they had confiscated by sending an image of the item across WhatsApp groups.

The return of the Taliban to power ended four decades of conflict and has largely made the country secure. But they have dramatically curbed women's rights, preventing most girls from attending secondary school, banning women from traveling alone and making it difficult for them to work.

 

 

They've also cracked down on those criticizing their rule, which has chiefly been women demanding their equal rights.

Meanwhile, sanctions have paralyzed the economy and plunged the country into a major humanitarian crisis with many Afghans going hungry. Major aid groups and human rights organizations have pleaded with the international community not to forget the plight of ordinary Afghans, and to allow commerce and trade to continue.