Afghanistan: a demonstration of support for Iranian women disrupted by Taliban fire

Europe 1 with AFP 5:13 p.m., September 29, 2022

The Taliban dispersed by shooting in the air, Thursday, September 29, a rally in front of the Iranian embassy in Kabul.

Afghan women had come to support the Iranian demonstrators, whose struggle they say they share.

To cries of "Woman, Life, Freedom", some 25 women, headscarves, demonstrated for about fifteen minutes on the road in front of the Iranian embassy.

This before being dispersed by shots fired in the air by the Taliban posted in front of the building, noted AFP journalists.

The Taliban also tried to beat the demonstrators with rifle butts, according to the same source.

"Iran is rising, now it's our turn. From Kabul to Iran, say no to dictatorship!" Chanted the demonstrators, behind banners that the Taliban snatched from their hands.

Dozens of people killed by police in Iran

Demonstrations have been taking place every night in Iran since September 16, when the young Mahsa Amini died in hospital, three days after her arrest in Tehran by the morality police for not respecting the strict dress code for women in the Islamic Republic of Iran, who must cover their hair in public.

Several dozen people were killed by the police during these demonstrations.

In the Afghan capital, women, some of whom had hidden their faces behind sunglasses and surgical masks, picked up the debris of their banners.

This in order to make balls of paper and throw them at the Taliban who were facing them.

The latter also ordered journalists to erase videos and photos of the demonstration.

"We must learn from Iranian women without fear of being killed or imprisoned, we must defend our rights," one protester told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"As long as these two governments are in power, we can never be free (...) Here too people are tired of the crimes of the Taliban. We are sure that one day our people will rise up in the same way as the people Iranian," she added.

>> READ ALSO - 

Demonstrations in Iran: more than 75 dead in 10 days according to an NGO

Very strict rules on the conduct of women

Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, several sporadic protests by women have been staged in the capital and other cities across the country, despite being banned.

Whether against the loss of their job or to claim the right to work.

Some of them were forcefully repressed and the activists who had called for the rallies were arrested by the Taliban.

“Afghanistan is a country that is going backwards day by day, posing a serious challenge, especially for women,” said another woman who took part in the demonstration, on condition of anonymity, and was reached by phone later. AFP.

After 20 years of war and the departure of the American army from Afghanistan, the country's new leaders have indeed imposed very strict rules on the conduct of women, especially in public life, ordering women to wear a full veil. in public, preferably the burqa.

The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, whose agents dressed in white coats roam the city, quickly replaced that of Women's Affairs.

Responsible for ensuring compliance with the rules, he notably ordered the separation of women and men in public parks in Kabul.

>> READ ALSO -

 Iran: Mahsa Amini's family files a complaint against the perpetrators of her arrest

Secondary schools for girls closed

Islamist fundamentalists have also closed secondary schools for girls in most provinces.

On Tuesday, September 27, a United Nations report denounced these "severe restrictions" on women's rights, in particular the ban on secondary education, and called on the Taliban to "immediately reverse this decision".

Lifting restrictions on women's rights is a key condition for recognition of the Taliban government, the international community has insisted.

So far, no country has recognized the Islamist government.