Kabul women protest against compulsory hijab

A number of female activists in Kabul have held demonstrations in protest against the Taliban's new order on women's face coverings and compulsory hijab. They chanted slogans such as "Afghan women are in the hands of the Taliban" and demanded the order be revoked.

A number of Afghan women activists demonstrated in Kabul on Tuesday, May 10. They protested with slogans such as “Afghan women in the clutches of the Taliban,” “Misogyny is a program, clothes are an excuse,” “Justice, justice, we are tired of captivity,” and “Death to this ignorance.” They protested against the Taliban’s new order to make it mandatory for Afghan women to cover their faces in public and to intensify restrictions, discrimination, and oppression of women in the country.

Protesters demanded the repeal of the order, work permits, and social freedoms for women.

One of the demonstrators, Manza Mubariz, told the German news agency that Taliban forces surrounded the protesting crowd. According to another participant, a number of protesters were arrested and released after nearly two hours.

A journalist present at the scene also told the German news agency that a group of journalists were also briefly detained for covering the protests.

The Taliban's new order and global reactions

On Saturday (May 7), the Taliban Ministry of Encouraging Good and Preventing Evil announced in a new order regarding women's hijab, stating that women must now cover their faces in public and wear a burqa (veil) in public places. In addition, women and girls are only allowed to leave the house if necessary. Violation of this order will result in punishment for the women's parents.

The Taliban's new decree on full face covering for women has sparked widespread anger and reactions in Afghanistan and the international community.

In a statement released on the occasion, Amnesty International called Afghan women “the bravest women” who “continue to fight to protect their hard-won human rights gains.” Amnesty International added: “We must not forget them.”

On Monday (May 9), the US ambassador to the United Nations, as well as the executive director of UN Women, were among those who protested the order.

Linda Thomas Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, called the Taliban’s recent order requiring women to wear full-face veils “unacceptable.” She pointed to the “frightening message” the Taliban is sending to the international community with this order, saying: “Such actions redouble our commitment to supporting Afghan women in the future.”

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the Taliban's latest decree on forcing women to wear the burqa in public, warning that the Taliban are leading Afghanistan towards a humanitarian, economic, and human rights disaster.

With the recent order on the clothing of women in this country, the Taliban are intensifying the process of discrimination and oppression against women, which they had previously begun by imposing extensive restrictions, including on the work and education of girls and women in Afghanistan.

After NATO forces withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban regained power, the Islamist group pledged not to reimpose the strict laws on women from its previous government.

Source: DW