Afghan women call for rights, protest alleged Taliban killings

On Dec 29, 2021

Afghan women has called for right, rights to be respected and accusing Taliban authorities of covertly killing soldiers who served the former United States-backed government.

About 30 women gathered near a mosque in the centre of Kabul on and marched a few hundred metres chanting justice, justice before they were stopped by Taliban forces.

The Taliban also tried to prevent journalists from covering the march, organised against the mysterious murders of young people, particularly the country’s former soldiers.

Taliban fighters briefly detained a group of reporters and confiscated equipment from some photographers, deleting images from their cameras before returning them.

“I want to tell the world, tell the Taliban to stop killing.

“We want freedom, we want justice, we want human rights,” protester Nayera Koahistani said.

In a statement read aloud by protester Laila Basam, the demonstrators called on the Taliban to stop its criminal machine.

The statement said former soldiers and ex-employees of the overthrown government are under direct threat, violating a general amnesty announced by the Taliban in August.

“Women’s rights are human rights. We must defend our rights,” said Koahistani.

Taliban leaders have sought to project a more moderate image in recent months, including saying women and girls will be able to attend school and work in accordance with Islamic law.

School for girls under the Taliban is erratic, and in many provinces, they are not allowed to attend school after grade six, but in more than 10 provinces, schools are open.

Kamila/Al-Jazeera