Women who were protesting for their rights in Afghanistan have said that they were badly beaten by Taliban enforcers. The incident occurred in the Afghan capital Kabul where women were demanding they were given equality under the theocratic extreme-conservative regime that has seized power once again after a 20-year war against US and NATO troops.
The incident is said to have involved dozens of women who were beaten with batons, whipped, and electrocuted with taser-type devices.
Speaking to the BBC, one woman said:
"We cannot accept this, and that's why we came out. We were marching peacefully. Then I saw 4-5 vehicles with about 10 Taliban fighters in each of them, following us. They struck my shoulder twice. I could feel pain all over my body. It still hurts and I can't move my arm. They also used a lot of bad words and abused us. It's too shameful for me to repeat the names they called us. We were all beaten. I was also hit. They told us to go home saying that's where a woman's place is."
اطلاعات روز: تقی دریابی و نعمتالله نقدی، دو گزارشگر روزنامه اطلاعات روز پس از بازداشت توسط طالبان، به شدت مورد لتوکوب قرار گرفتهاند.
— اطلاعات روز | Etilaatroz (@Etilaatroz) September 8, 2021
آثاری از شلاق و کیبل بر سر، صورت و بدن این دو گزارشگر اطلاعات روز به چشم میخورد. pic.twitter.com/0vuEwYW28b
Similar protests shortly after the Taliban's seizure of power were dispersed after Taliban fighters fired live ammunition over the heads of protestors.
Another protest supporter told the BBC:
"They tell me not to go for protests. They [the Taliban] will kill you. I fought with my brother to attend the march on Wednesday. It's important that we raise our voice. I'm not scared. I will keep going again and again and again, until they kill us. It is better to die once than die gradually. We know the Taliban will find us and might target us. But we don't have a choice. We have to continue."
An Afghan journalist also told the British broadcaster:
"They detained many protesters and journalists. They took my phone, mic and other equipment. They hit me repeatedly, with their hands, and books. I told them I was a journalist but they wouldn't listen. I saw them beating others with guns. They deleted all my videos. The display photo on my phone was of a man and woman embracing each other. This really angered a Taliban commander who struck me hard across my face."
The Taliban had said that they will not impose the strict regime that was in place when they last held power in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001. At that time, women were stoned to death and could not leave their home without a male chaperone. Music was also banned, and the death penalty was enforced upon almost anyone who opposed the Taliban. Many believe that the Taliban's claims of being more liberal are in fact nothing but a smokescreen for their true intentions.
[h/t: BBC]
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