As the one-year anniversary of the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan approaches, protesting women were beaten up and shots were fired in the air by the Taliban fighters on Saturday, 13 August.
Visuals obtained by The Quint show dozens of women chanting "bread, work, and freedom," as they marched in Kabul in front of the education ministry building,
In one of the videos, loud gunshots can be heard after which the protesting women, fearing their lives, disperse to safety. One of the women can be heard saying, "The Taliban has opened fire on us protesters. We have been dispersed and have got separated to run to safety."
Nevertheless, many protesters, perhaps out of defiance, could be seen not wearing any veils to cover their face, despite the Taliban enforcing a strict dress code throughout the year.
They also raised banners that displayed messages like, 'August 15 is a black day.'
The Taliban seized power on 15 August 2021 after the United States withdrew its troops from the country. It had initially promised a softer version of the Islamist rule that is reminiscent of their rule over Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
That has not been the case in practice. With women bearing the brunt of the Taliban's repressive rule, tens of thousands of girls have been banned from going to secondary schools, while women have been stripped of their government jobs. Women have also been prohibited from travelling by themselves on long trips.
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