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.
“The conquest of Kabul has proven once again 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 against 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 downtown the capital, which fell on August 15, 2021 when the US-backed government collapsed and its leaders went into exile, were taken over 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 songs of “glory be to Allah” sounded, while others performed a few traditional dance steps.
American-made military vehicles, abandoned by international forces after their chaotic withdrawal from the country, also made multiple trips to adjacent avenues.
Having come to power after 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 against 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 after a dazzling offensive started three months earlier in favor of the beginning of the withdrawal of foreign forces.
“This is the day the Afghans liberated their land from those who had invaded and occupied it, and today we achieved this independence,” said Adil Ghaznawi, 22, when interviewed by the AFP.
“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 assured during these two years, but the labor market is not favorable to young people,” said Abdulwase Qadri, a tuk-tuk 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 about fifty Taliban defenders gathered in the streets of Herat chanted “Death to Europeans! Death to Westerners! Long live the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan! Death to 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.
Restrictions on women’s rights – excluded from public life as well as pathways to employment and education – are a major stumbling block in negotiations over the government’s international recognition and aid. she could 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.
“I have the impression of no longer having a place in society (…). I am confined to respecting the rules of a few men who have retrograde thoughts and who are against women’s rights”, he said. – she still denounced on the phone to AFP.
Protests by women are severely suppressed in Afghanistan, but as the anniversary approaches, small groups of women have staged rare and brief protests against the Taliban regime, wearing face coverings.
“We demonstrated for the United Nations and human rights organizations to pay attention to the fact that half of society is oppressed,” Zholia Parsi, a participant in a rally organized in Paris, told AFP. behind closed doors, but broadcast on social networks.
In the neighboring country of Pakistan, a demonstration gathered more than a hundred people in Islamabad: “August 15, black day in Afghanistan”, could we read on a sign held up by a demonstrator.
“We strongly condemn the gross and increasing human rights violations committed by the Taliban, in particular against 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.
15/08/2023 16:21:23 – Kabul (AFP) © 2023 AFP
