蜜芽传媒

The UN has called for the latest actions by Taliban authorities targeting women and girls to be 鈥渋nvestigated as gender persecution鈥�. In a statement, Special Rapporteurs for Afghanistan argued that gender persecution is a crime against humanity, which can be prosecuted under international law.

While girls remain excluded from secondary education, women have also been stopped from entering parks, gyms, and other public places. Women peacefully protesting against growing restrictions have for months been targeted, beaten, and arrested. Among them, Zarifa Yaquobi, a demonstrator who attended a press conference announcing the formation of the Afghan Women鈥檚 Movement for Equality.

Fawzia Koofi is a former MP from Afghanistan and was the first female Deputy Speaker of Parliament. She was a peace negotiator with the Taliban ahead of their takeover in August 2021. She is also a friend of Ms Yaquobi. She told Newsday: 鈥淚 think they control women to stay in power鈥�the more women become free, the Taliban think that they are losing power. They know that what they are doing is against Islam鈥�they do it because they are afraid.鈥�

(Picture: Shows Afghan women protesters running as Taliban fighters fire into the air to disperse them in Kabul on August 13th 2022. Credit: Wakil Kohsar / AFP via Getty Images.)

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