By: Rukhshana Media
Herat university students were protesting Saturday morning against the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education while they were violently beaten and dispersed by water cannons, protesters in western Herat province tell Rukhshana Media.
The students were demonstrating with the slogans such as “education for everyone or no one”, “woman, life and education”, and “respect the holy Quran, don’t deprive women of their rights”.
Samira*, one of the protesters, tells Rukhshana Media that they were supposed to march from Mustofiat square to the Herat government office, but the Taliban forces controlled the area with light and heavy weapons, and as soon as the march started, they dispersed the girls beating and threatening them and using water cannons.
She says that some of Herat’s tradesmen and shopkeepers were also supposed to accompany the protesters by closing their shops, but unfortunately, they stopped their strike due to the Taliban’s threats.
“Unfortunately, most of the girls were not allowed by their families to participate in the protest,” Zohra*, another protester, says. “Our fathers and brothers are just watching.”
Nagina*, another protester, says that the Taliban behaved more violently than before. She adds that she witnessed the beating of two girls by a Taliban force.
On Thursday, the Taliban suppressed a women’s protest in Kabul and detained at least five of them. According to some sources, two protesters, including Roqia Saie and and Bahara are still in the Taliban’s custody.
Meanwhile, some of the medical students of Kandahar university and students of the Architecture Department at Kabul University boycotted attending their classes in statements in solidarity with girls across the country until the ban is removed.
The protests take place after the Taliban banned girls’ education at all levels in the country on Tuesday, December 20.
Following the closure of universities for women, the Taliban also banned girls from attending language and tuition centers.
The suspension of girls’ education in Afghanistan has sparked widespread reactions across the country. So far, a large number of university professors have resigned.
The names of the interviewees have been changed at their request due to security reasons.
