By: Rukhshana Media
A female university alleges she was beaten by two Taliban border guards at Islam Qala border between Iran and Afghanistan because she was travelling alone.
“Where is your Mahram?” she said the Taliban asked. “Did you know about the new rules?”
The Taliban banned women from travelling alone last month.
She said a Taliban officer slapped her on the face when he knew she didn’t have a male comapanion, known as Mahram.
“They called me prostitute, and a western child,” she added. “Two of them whipped and kicked me until I fainted.”
She shared photos with Rukhshana Media which show bruises on her face, legs and shoulder.
The incident happened on Saturday, April 2, when she tried to cross the border into Iran. The woman spoke on the condition of anynomity due to safety reasons.
She said she is studying business management at one of the Universities in Iran, and she had returned to Afghanistan to spend Nowruz holidays with her family.
Her father and younger brother couldn’t travel with her because they are ill.
The Taliban didn’t allow her to fly out of Kabul airport because she didn’t have a male escort. She then took the road to Herat, hoping she may be able to cross the border alone.
She was finally allowed to exit Afghanistan when she regained consciousness. She spent five hours in Taliban detention.
She said she is under treatment for back injury in Iran.
Her friend, who did not want to be identified, corroborated her account of being beaten by the Taliban.
