2023-08-15 14:43:29
The Taliban government in Afghanistan celebrated on Tuesday the second anniversary of its return to power and the country’s regained “freedom” from the “invader”, but in the absence of women whose rights are constantly being amputated, castigate their opponents.
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“The conquest of Kabul has proven once once more that no one can control the proud Afghan nation and that no invader will be allowed to threaten the country’s independence and freedom,” the Taliban government said in a statement. is not recognized by the international community.
Over the past two years, the Taliban authorities have imposed their austere interpretation of Islam and multiplied measures once morest women’s rights, constituting a stumbling block in the negotiations, the United Nations denouncing an “apartheid of gender”.
On Tuesday, a public holiday, the streets of the capital’s city center, which fell on August 15, 2021 when the US-backed government collapsed and its leaders went into exile, were swarmed by Taliban supporters .
Several hundred men gathered in front of the former American embassy, waving white and black flags of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (name given to the country by its new leaders).
No women were present, and some men took selfies, all smiles, while chants of “glory be to Allah” sounded, while others performed a few traditional dance steps.
American-made military vehicles, abandoned by international forces following their chaotic withdrawal from the country, also made multiple trips down adjacent avenues.
Having come to power following a civil war in 1996, the Taliban were ousted in 2001, in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States. Engaged in a guerrilla war once morest the pro-Western government supported by American soldiers and an international coalition, they had taken over the presidential palace in Kabul on August 15, 2021 following a dazzling offensive that had begun three months earlier thanks to the beginning of the withdrawal of foreign forces.
“A lot of hope”
“There is a lot of hope and happiness,” he added, assuring that “the corruption” that plagued the previous government and the institutions had disappeared.
“Security has been ensured during these two years, but the labor market is not favorable to young people”, underlined for his part Abdulwase Qadri, tuk-touk driver in Herat (west).
The country of more than 38 million people is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
In the morning, around fifty Taliban defenders gathered in the streets of Herat chanted “Death to the Europeans! Death to Westerners! Long live the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan! Death to the Americans!”.
The planned military parade in the city has been canceled while the one in Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban movement and from where reclusive supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada rules by decree, has been moved inside a military camp outside shelter from the general public.
“Retrogrades”
Restrictions on women’s rights – excluded from public life as well as access to employment and education – are a major obstacle in negotiations on the government’s recognition by the international community and the aid that she might bring.
“I have the impression that their victory is in fact the beginning of the misfortunes of Afghan women,” points out Farah, a medical student in Kabul, before the doors of the country’s universities were closed to women.
Protests by women are severely suppressed in Afghanistan, but as the anniversary approaches, small groups of women have staged rare and brief protests once morest the Taliban regime, wearing face coverings.
In the neighboring country, Pakistan, a demonstration brought together more than a hundred people in Islamabad: “August 15, black day in Afghanistan”, might we read on a sign brandished by a demonstrator.
“We strongly condemn the gross and increasing human rights violations committed by the Taliban, in particular once morest women and girls, and the lack of an effective response to these violations by the international community. “, denounced Tuesday in a press release ten international organizations for the defense of human rights.
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