New Delhi: Hundreds of women took to the streets in Kabul, Parwan, and Badakhshan on Wednesday as acting minister for Women Affairs was not announced in the cabinet listed by the Taliban. Afghan women called for their meaningful inclusion in the government.
Taliban came into action by arresting several journalists who were covering the protest and even opened fire in the air. It is being reported that journalists were allegedly detained and severely beaten by Taliban security.
Over the weekend, the Taliban broke up a demonstration by dozens of women in Kabul – with the protesters saying they were targeted with tear gas.
Distressing images of journalists being beaten by the Taliban surfaced on the internet which underlines global concerns over the ability to deliver on promises to protect human rights and freedom of the press.
American journalist Marcus Yam sharing a photo wrote, “Painful. Afghan journalists from Nemat Naqdi & Taqi Daryabi display wounds sustained from Taliban torture & beating while in custody after they were arrested for reporting on a women’s rally in Kabul.”
Painful. Afghan journalists from @Etilaatroz, Nemat Naqdi & Taqi Daryabi, display wounds sustained from Taliban torture & beating while in custody after they were arrested for reporting on a women’s rally in #Kabul, #Afghanistan.#JournalismIsNotACrime https://t.co/jt631nRB69 pic.twitter.com/CcIuCy6GVw
— Marcus Yam 文火 (@yamphoto) September 8, 2021
Women’s voices have been banned from radio, and they are disappearing from the media landscape. Reports are flooding in from across the country of girls being forced to marry, of women being prevented from working, with their jobs offered to male family members and of women’s safe spaces being looted and destroyed.
The Taliban had announced its “Islamic Emirate” cabinet of 33 ministers in its caretaker government with no women representative in the decision-making process.
The entire infrastructure of support for women who have experienced violence has collapsed overnight, from the courts and the government-run Family Response Units to shelters and safe houses, said Naciri.
