Taliban fire into air to stop a rally by women

The Taliban countered a peaceful protest by women with gunfire.

Taliban special forces fired their weapons in the air Saturday to break up a women’s rally for equal rights in Afghanistan, following the group’s quick takeover of the country last month as the United States withdrew after 20 years.

Saturday’s demonstration was the second in as many days in Kabul, serving as an attempt “to gain human rights in Afghanistan,” protester Maryam Naiby, 20, told The Associated Press.

The special forces rushed into the crowd as they reached the presidential palace, firing into the air — as well as using tear gas, university student and demonstrator Sudaba Kabiri, 24, said — causing protesters to flee.

Despite the Taliban’s pledge to impose a more moderate form of Islamic rule than they did in 1996 to 2001, many Afghan women are hesitant to believe they’ll be allowed to hold on to the rights they’ve gained in the past 20 years.

Officials of the Taliban, which is influenced strongly by the Pakistani intelligence service, have spent the past two weeks holding meetings.

Pakistan’s intelligence chief Gen. Faiez Hameed made a surprise visit to Afghanistan’s capital Saturday, though the contents of his discussion with Taliban leadership, which was headquartered in Pakistan, were not immediately clear.

Also on Saturday, the Taliban painted over murals promoting health care and warning of the perils of HIV as well as one honoring foreign contributor, anthropologist Nancy Dupree, responsible for chronicling the country’s cultural legacy.

Such works were replaced “because they are against our values. They were spoiling the minds of the mujahedeen and instead we wrote slogans that will be useful to everyone,” Taliban cultural commission spokesman Ahmadullah Muttaqi tweeted, pointing to the new slogans praising citizens on their victory.

But even as the Taliban flexed its muscle, some of the demonstrators remained undaunted.

College student Farhat Popalzai, 24, said she wanted to speak for those too afraid to take to the street.

“I am the voice of the women who are unable to speak.” she said.