On Sunday, 25th, 18-year-old Marwa challenged the armed Taliban stationed in Kabul with a sign claiming women’s right to education in Afghanistan.
“For the first time in my life, I felt so proud, strong and powerful because I stood up to them and demanded a God-given right,” Marwa told AFP, refusing to give her last name.
Last Tuesday (20), the Taliban government banned women from university teaching, which caused the anger of the international community.
Some women’s groups held occasional demonstrations against the ban, but authorities quickly dispersed the crowd.
Marwa, on the other hand, chose to protest alone.
The young woman visited Kabul University, the country’s largest and most important educational institution, on Sunday. For about ten minutes, Marwa, filmed from a car by his sister, stood bravely in front of the Taliban guards stationed at the entrance of the establishment.
In a video obtained by AFP, he is seen silently holding a sign that reads “Iqra” (“Read” in Arabic).
“Meanwhile they (Taliban) insulted me, but I was at peace,” Marwa told AFP.
I wanted to show the strength of an Afghan youth and show that even one person can stand up to oppression. When my other sisters (students) see a single young woman standing up to the Taliban, it will help them do the same and defeat them.
Merve to AFP
a prison
Women’s demonstrations have become less frequent in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control of the country in August 2021. Participants are regularly detained and subjected to violence.
A few days after women were banned from accessing university education, authorities also ordered NGOs to stop working with women.
The Taliban allege that both bans were imposed because of women’s non-compliance with the Islamic dress code. In Afghanistan, women are required to cover their face and whole body.
In the past 16 months, the Taliban have also barred youth from secondary school and women from most public offices. They were also banned from visiting parks, gyms and baths.
For Marwa, who dreams of becoming a painter, living in Afghanistan is like living in a prison.
“I don’t want to be arrested. I have big dreams that I want to achieve. That’s why I decided to protest,” he says.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.