Women on Streets in Support of the Taliban

Despite its rigid rules for women, the Taliban is gaining their support. The Taliban, known for its atrocities on the female gender, women on streets surprisingly received a rally full of support.

According to India Today, around 300 women rallied, holding slogans supporting the newly formed government in Kabul. The row of women gathered at the lecture hall of the Kabul University, pledging their allegiance to the Taliban government and policies.  

The women protestors wore full-length burqas, few with blue face niqabs, whereas others wore black niqabs with their entire faces covered except for the eyes. Many of the female protestors even wore black gloves. The women stood in support of the Taliban by waving its flag and dressing per the Taliban’s Islamist policies.  

Taliban’s comeback 

Taliban came back to power in Afghanistan on August 15 but with a less stringent approach. The Taliban formed a government according to their claim with people belonging to the Afghan soil and ethnicity.

With new policies and promises, including maintenance of peace, prosperity and development of the country, said Taliban’s leader Mullah Haibatullah, Al Jazeera reported.  

The takeover led to women protesting on the streets, fearing the atrocities to come back and the repressive policies during its previous reign.  

Taliban’s stringent policies  

According to the US Archives, Afghanistan under the Taliban recorded one of the worst human rights crises.

From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban governance was a strict rule-based on sharia law during its previous regime. Schools and Universities, including Kabul University, were closed for women, their movement and their dressing in the country were restricted.  

Women in Afghanistan  

Then and now 

The Taliban, known for its suppressing policies, have returned with some reforms this time. The Taliban spokesperson said that women and girls would be allowed to attend schools and colleges, and he said they could work.

Before the Taliban’s rule, women were free to choose their dress, and educational institutions had mixed gatherings.  

Education Minister Abdul Baqi Haqqani said that the classroom would be divided for male and female students to study separately or in the same classroom separated by a curtain. Colleges and schools will appoint female teachers for women and girls, BBC news reported.  

New developments in the Taliban policies have been coming ever since the militant group came back to power.  In a recent interview, one of the Taliban’s leaders said that women could work not alongside men.

If the policy gets implemented, the women would not be allowed to work in government offices, hospitals, banks, etc., Ndtv reported. He added that the group would undoubtedly imply its sharia law despite international pressure.  

Meaning women will be allowed to study and work but under the group’s sharia law. According to Haqqani, sharia law doesn’t allow men and women to share the same spaces. Hence the Taliban would give its best to restore the sharia system in the country after a break of two decades.

Despite the Taliban’s claim to welcome women in the government posts, the newly formed government had no name of a female officer. 

Following this, women protestors came out on the streets protesting for the rights they gained while the Taliban was away.  

Protests against and for the Taliban 

When protests broke out in Afghanistan with women showing opposition to the group, Taliban’s officers tried to suppress the opponent with force.

A statement was issued, making every protest organized without permission illegal and punishable. A spokesperson from the Taliban on TOLO news even said that a handful of women protesting do not represent all women in Afghanistan.  

Tables turned when a group of young women came out on Friday, showing their support to the extremist group and their policies.