14 minutes
KABUL: A small group of women gathered in Kabul on Sunday for a “silent protest” against the interim Taliban administration's decision permitting only boys and male teachers to resume their educational activities in Afghanistan.
Although it failed to get much public attention, women managed to register their disapproval of the Taliban decision before representatives from certain international media outlets in the capital city, according to Anadolu Agency (AA).
All Afghan schools and Islamic seminaries for boys reopened as of Saturday under a Taliban announcement, saying: “All male teachers and students must attend their educational institutions.”
In the afternoon, about a dozen women, all dressed in black burqas, assembled at Gulbahar Shopping Mall in the city centre and waited for the rally to be organised.
Despite the interim Taliban’s administration’s ban on unauthorised rallies, organisers Shakiba Tamkin and Joliya Farisi were seen coordinating everything, even putting black scotch tape on the mouths of other women to imply that they are not mute and can raise their voices.
The Taliban said on Sept 9 that prior approval from the interim Justice Ministry is required before holding any protest marches.
Tamkin told AA that some women had proceeded to acquire authorisation for the protest march, but they failed to get it.
Still, about two dozen women began marching with placards bearing slogans in support of girls’ education and women’s rights.
Several Taliban security vehicles passed close by the marchers, but they paid little attention.
“This is not Afghanistan 20 years ago... things have changed,” a teen girl who came to the mall with her mother said.
“We are digitally connected to the rest of the world, and we are aware of our rights,” she stated, without revealing her identity but expressing her support for the rally participants.
“The Taliban administration would allow the young girls to study as it is not possible to place a ban on their education right now,” said Mohammad Mukhtar, a school teacher who also came for shopping with his family.
Small groups of women organised rallies in three cities, including Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, and Kabul, since the Taliban took control of Kabul on Aug 15, demanding that their rights be preserved. -Bernama
