In August, the Taliban issued new “vice and virtue” laws that restricted women’s rights in Afghanistan, leading to a crackdown on their freedom and mobility. Despite these oppressive measures, more than 130 Afghan women gathered in Tirana, Albania for the All Afghan Women summit to discuss the Taliban’s violations of human rights. Speaking to the women at the conference, Guardian reporter Annie Kelly highlighted the drastic changes that Afghan women have faced since the Taliban took control three years ago. Previously, Afghan women were encouraged to pursue education and employment, including roles in law enforcement and judiciary. However, the Taliban quickly reversed these advancements by banning girls over 11 from attending secondary school, shutting down universities for women, and restricting women from nearly all forms of paid work or public activities. The Taliban enforced strict rules, such as prohibiting women from walking in public parks, closing communal spaces like beauty salons, and imposing severe punishments like stoning and public executions for crimes like adultery. The testimonies from Afghan women at the summit shed light on the grave human rights abuses and challenges they continue to face under Taliban rule. This gathering serves as a powerful platform for Afghan women to share their experiences and advocate for their rights in the face of oppressive policies enforced by the Taliban.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
Podcast: Exclusive Coverage of a Covert Gathering of Afghan Women’s Rights Activists
