KABUL: Dozens of women gather on the streets of Herat, a city in Western Afghanistan, on Thursday, protesting the Taliban and demanding more rights and inclusions in future governments that can be announced as soon as tomorrow.
“Don’t be afraid,” they shouted when they marched towards the governor’s office, held a sign.
“We’re all together.” Herat City is one of the most liberal young women, and thousands of young people there attended the university and worked outside their home before the Taliban takeover.
While the group has stated that he supports women’s rights, many of which remain skeptical because the last time the Taliban runs the country, women are prohibited from education, most of the work and almost all aspects of public life.
“We want to show our strength to the Taliban,” said Maryam, organizers of protests.
“If we live in our homes, we cannot show our strength, but the Taliban can wear more restrictions on us to eliminate us from society and politics slowly.” Protests at Herat came one day after Sher Mohammed Abas Stanekzai, a Taliban leader, told BBC service Persia that women would not have a ministerial position in the upcoming Taliban government.
“The purpose of protest is to notify the Taliban to include women in government and that no government can survive without their presence,” said Basira, a human rights activist and the principal who helped regulate protests.
“We will not be quiet again.” He said that women’s groups will continue to fight and hope protests will force the Taliban to accept their demands.
“We will support our rights to death,” he said.
The protesters walked on the streets, slogan songs and holding marks.
“Education, work, and security are our rights – cannot be revoked,” a sign held by protesters.
They plan to expand protest into all 34 provinces.