A number of Afghan human rights defenders held a protest rally on Thursday in front of the United Nations office in Tehran, expressing concern over the situation of women’s rights and the intensification of restrictions against women in Afghanistan.
The gathering was held in solidarity with Afghan women protesters, particularly women in Herat, and participants called for greater attention and more decisive action by the international community regarding the situation of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
The protesters carried placards and chanted slogans, urging the United Nations and international organizations to take more effective and concrete measures to support Afghan women and address human rights violations.
Organizers stated that participants were protesting what they described as “gender apartheid” and widespread restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan, calling for an end to what they see as the international community’s silence on the issue.
According to participants, Iranian police were present at the scene during the gathering and intervened to bring the demonstration to an end. Protesters also alleged that the mobile phones of some activists were confiscated and that some of the recorded photos and videos from the protest were deleted.
Based on participants’ accounts, additional security forces were deployed to the area, and in the end, attendees left the site to prevent further escalation and avoid confrontation.
The participants expressed concern over the situation of women in Afghanistan and called on the international community not to remain indifferent to ongoing developments in the country, urging effective and immediate measures to protect women’s rights and the fundamental freedoms of Afghan citizens.
The protest took place amid continued concern from human rights organizations, civil society activists, and international bodies regarding women’s rights and the restrictions imposed on them in Afghanistan, which remain among the most significant issues related to the country.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
