Around 16 Afghan nationals started a hunger strike in Cologne, Germany, to raise awareness about the plight of women living under “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan.
Tamanna Zaryab Paryani, a women’s rights activist and a protester said that the group began their hunger strike on September 1 and plan to continue it until September 12.
Ms Paryani told Rukhshana Media that they were striking to protest the gender apartheid happening in Afghanistan.
She said they also want financial aid to the Taliban cut off, political support from the world to stop, and for those detained without charge in Afghanistan’s prisons to be released.
Ms Paryani said the group, which is made up of men and women, are not in good health since they haven’t eaten in over 70 hours, but they will continue to strike.
She called on Afghan citizens both inside and outside the country to join their protests and to not let the calls for justice to be silenced.
While the protest has not had any official response from government officials, organizations or human rights defenders so far, Ms Paryani said she believes their efforts will land a positive result.
In Kabul, a group of Afghan women staged an indoor protest to raise awareness on the same issue.
Calling themselves the Women Towards Freedom movement, the women asked the international community on Sunday to recognise that the Taliban is implementing gender apartheid in Afghanistan.
In a video clip seen by Rukhshana Media, they said that the Taliban is targeting and systematically killing women and girls and that the international community should end this group’s crimes.
The indoor protest started out with the women repeating chants and slogans such as, “Equality and freedom, not terror and suicide,” “Taliban commits crimes, the world supports” and “Justice, justice, we are tired of crime.”
The protesters added that the international community should not support the crimes of the Taliban and should not recognize their government in Afghanistan.
