KABUL —
Taliban forces on Sunday fired pepper spray at
a group of women protesters in
Afghanistan's capital demanding rights to work
and education, three demonstrators told AFP.
اضافة اعلان
Since seizing control of the country by force in August, the
Taliban authorities have imposed creeping restrictions on Afghans, especially
on women.
Around 20 women gathered in front of
Kabul University,
chanting "equality and justice" and carried banners that read
"Women's rights, human rights", an AFP correspondent reported.
The protest however was later dispersed by the Taliban
fighters who arrived at the scene in several vehicles, three women protesters
told AFP.
"When we were near Kabul University three Taliban
vehicles came, and fighters from one of the vehicles used pepper spray on
us," said a protester, who asked not to be named for security reasons.
"My right eye started to burn. I told one of them
'shame on you', and then he pointed his gun at me."
Two other protesters said that one of the women had to be
taken to hospital after the spray caused an allergic reaction to her eyes and
face.
An AFP correspondent saw a fighter confiscate a mobile phone
of a man who was filming the demonstration.
The hardline Islamist group have banned unsanctioned
protests and frequently intervened to forcefully break up rallies demanding
rights for women.
The Taliban authorities have blocked women public sector
employees from returning to work, many secondary schools have still not
reopened for girls, and public universities are shut.
Long distance trips for women who are not accompanied by a
close male relative have been banned.
The authorities have also issued guidelines that prevent
television channels from broadcasting serials featuring women actors.
Meanwhile, many women are living in hiding, fearful of a
regime notorious for human rights abuses during their first stint in power
between 1996–2001, before being ousted by a US-led invasion.
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