Afghan women outraged by new Taliban restrictions on workAbout a dozen Afghan women protested briefly Sunday outside the old Ministry for Women's Affairs, which has now been replaced by a department that earned notoriety for enforcing strict Islamic doctrine. Many Afghan women fear they will never find meaningful employment. Although still marginalised, Afghan women have fought for and gained basic rights in the past 20 years, becoming lawmakers, judges, pilots and police officers, though mostly limited to large cities. When pressed, Taliban officials say women have been told to stay at home for their own security but will be allowed to work once proper segregation can be implemented. In Herat, an education official insisted the issue of girls and women teachers returning to school was a question of time, not policy.

Source: Bangkok Post September 20, 2021 07:41 UTC