A number of members of the Afghanistan Women’s Political Participation Network held a protest gathering in the city of Mashhad, expressing their opposition to the recent arrests of women and girls in Herat and other provinces by the Taliban.
The protesting women strongly criticized the deteriorating situation of women’s rights in Afghanistan and condemned the Taliban’s ongoing restrictions and detentions targeting women.
The demonstrators specifically declared their solidarity with the women and general population of Herat, and called on the international community and human rights organizations to take serious action to prevent arbitrary arrests of women, violence, and violations of fundamental rights in Afghanistan.
One protester stated: “Hijab is just an excuse; what is happening in Herat is open hostility against Afghan women.” Another participant added: “The pain of the women of Herat is our shared pain, and we will not remain silent.”
In a video footage, the women can be seen chanting slogans such as “work, freedom, and education,” demanding their rights.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
