Women march in Kabul to demand role in Taliban government

Protesters say the Taliban used pepper sprays and tear gas to disperse them as they tried to reach the presidential palace.

By Ali M Latifi, 4 Sep 2021 Kabul, Afghanistan ± Do]ens of women took to the streets of the capital on Saturday to demand their right to work, a role in any future government, and a seat at the table in discussions with the Taliban.

The protest began with 50 women marching towards the presidential palace. However, Ra]ia Barak]ai, 26, said the women were stopped near the entrance to the finance ministry, where the Taliban “surrounded” them and kept them from continuing on their march towards the palace entrance.

Barak]ai said the Taliban had employed both pepper spray and tear gas to try and disburse the crowd. “We were calm and peaceful the entire time, but they just wanted to stop us at any cost,” she told Al Ja]eera. Saturday’s demonstration marks at least the fourth time women in Kabul and the western city of Herat have gathered to demand their rights in a future Taliban-led government. Barak]ai said the Taliban which tried to encircle the protesters were wearing red banners and carrying guns.

“These weren’t ordinary Taliban forces,” she said. The crowd was surrounded on all four sides by the Taliban, who told them, according to Barak]ai, “*o home, each of you one by one.” However, getting out proved to be just as difficult, since the Taliban continued to surround them.

“It was strange, they didn’t want us to stay, but they also wouldn’t let us leave.” Barak]ai also said one of the women was struck by the Taliban. Social media images showed a young woman bleeding from the head, where she claimed the Taliban had struck her.

Al Ja]eera could not independently verify exactly how she was injured.