Continuing to protest against the restrictions imposed on women by the Taliban, a group of women protesters have expressed their opposition to what they perceive as the Taliban’s “anti-women” policies in a different manner.
Members of the Strong Women’s Movement and several other activists, in response to recent statements attributed to Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban who claimed that Afghan women have been “reformed,” launched a protest movement on Friday, June 2, under the name “Dancing in Despair.”
Video footage obtained by Hasht-e Subh depicts a group of women dancing with their chadors (traditional veils) as a form of protest.
In a statement, these women protesters emphasized that Afghan women have always been progressive, and it is the Taliban and their medieval mindset that have imprisoned women and labeled those who believe in justice and freedom as criminals.
The statement reads: “Through our dance in despair, we send a message to the Taliban and their supporters that women and girls will not back down from their position until justice, freedom, and gender equality are achieved. We stand stronger against the Taliban’s misogynistic apartheid policies.”
These protests come at a time when the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently stated in a letter to the United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that they pay special attention to women and their rights in Afghanistan.
Since their takeover of the country, the Taliban has deprived women and girls of education, schooling, and work, disregarding the repeated calls from the global community.
