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2021–2022 Afghan protests

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by ImperatorPanda (talk | contribs) at 11:11, 9 September 2021 (No concessions have been giving so it’s not worth adding in the infobox.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

{{Infobox civil conflict | title = 2021 Afghanistan protests | partof = Panjshir conflict[1][2][3] | image = | caption = | alt = | date = 17 August 2021 – present | place = Afghanistan | coordinates = | causes = 

| status       = Ongoing
  • Protests suppressed by force

| goals =

| result = | methods = Demonstrations, protests | casualties_label = Casualties | fatalities = At least 10 protesters | injuries = 100+ | arrests = At least 6 journalists | side1 = Anti-Taliban protesters
Supported by:
Afghanistan National Resistance Front of Afghanistan | side2 = Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

| units1 = | units2 = The 2021 Afghan protests are ongoing protests in Afghanistan against the Taliban that started on 17 August 2021 following the Fall of Kabul to the Taliban on 15 August 2021. These protests have been by Islamic democrats and feminists. Both groups are against the treatment of women by the Taliban government, considering it as discriminatory and misogynistic.

Background

During the 2021 Taliban offensive when Taliban insurgents captured large swathes of territory and assaulted several cities, a number of civilians started pro-government protests in opposition to the Taliban. On 2 August, large numbers of people in the western city of Herat took to their rooftops, using God is the greatest as a rallying cry. The next day, similar protests spread elsewhere: Kabul residents used the same rallying cry while gathering together in the streets waving the Afghan flag.[8] It came shortly after a powerful bomb blast targeting the house of the defense minister was committed by the Taliban.[9] The protests in Herat inspired protests in the provinces of Nangarhar, Khost, Kunar and Bamiyan.[10]

On 15 August 2021, the Taliban captured Kabul. This sent many into panic, prompting evacuations of military, embassy staff, and partially, civilians.

Protests

August

On 17 August 2021, small protests consisting of women were reported in Kabul, demanding equal rights for women.[11][12]

Larger protests emerged in eastern Pashtun-inhabited[13] cities the following day. On 18 August, the Taliban opened fire on demonstrators in Jalalabad, killing 3 and wounding more than a dozen. The Taliban had promised not to be brutal in the way they rule. Witnesses said the deaths happened when local residents tried to install Afghanistan's national flag at a square in Jalalabad.[14][1] There were also reports of people trying to plant Afghanistan's national flag in the eastern cities of Khost and Asadabad.[15]

The next day, 19 August, Afghan Independence Day, protests were reported as spreading to more cities, including large separate protests in Kabul, with 200 people gathered in one demonstration before it was broken up by force by the Taliban.[16] Later on the 19th, some outlets reported that the protests in Kabul had swelled to thousands of protesters.[17] There were multiple reports of the Taliban flag being torn down and replaced by the flag of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and protesters were reported as flying the latter flag.[2][16] Several protesters were reported killed after they were fired upon while they were waving national flags during Afghan Independence Day in Asadabad,[2][16] where "hundreds of people" were described as joining the protest.[2] In Kabul on the 19th, a procession of cars and people carried a long Afghan tricolor in a symbol of defiance.[3] In Khost Province on the 19th, the Taliban violently broke up another protest, and declared a 24-hour curfew; meanwhile, in Nangarhar Province, a video was posted showing a bleeding protester with a gunshot wound being carried away.[3]

Amrullah Saleh, formerly the vice president and the declared acting "caretaker" President of Afghanistan by the Panjshir resistance per the Afghan constitution in the event of the flight abroad of former President Ashraf Ghani, saluted protesters "who carry the national flag and thus stand for dignity of the nation" on 19 August.[2] However, the priority of the US is still geared towards securing the perimeter of the airport, as well as raising the number of evacuees out of the capital Kabul, Pentagon officials disclosed.[18]

On 20 August, Afghan women held a protest gathering about their worries for the future and about women's participation in the new government. Human rights activist Fariha Esar stated, "We will not relinquish our right to education, the right to work, and our right to political and social participation."[19]

September

See also: Treatment of women by the Taliban
A protester in Herat

"They said I should stay at home because I don't have a mahram to accompany me to the entrance of the clinic.
~ Bano, sole breadwinner for three children.

'Evidence contradicts Taliban's claim to respect women's rights'
~ The Guardian,
Friday 3 Sep 2021[20]

On 2 September, 24 women in Herat held a street protest, calling for women to be included in the Taliban government and for all working women to be allowed to return to work. One of the posters stated, "Education, work and security are our — inalienable rights". Protest organisers said that they planned for women's' protests to spread across all of Afghanistan.[4] A similar women's protest took place in Kabul on 3 September, again calling for women to be included in the government, and in other political decision-making processes. The protesters called for women to defend improvements in their rights gained during the first two decades of the twenty-first century. Another women's protest held in Kabul on the same day appeared to have been blocked by Taliban forces, according to a video circulating on online social media.[21]

Civil rights protests continued on 4 September in Kabul, including journalists and other activists, mostly women. As they marched towards the Presidential Palace, the marchers were blocked by Taliban security forces. The Taliban terminated the march by entering the crowd, firing weapons in the air and using tear gas against the protesters.[22][23] The Taliban assaulted protesters using rifle butts and metal objects. One of the protesters was knocked unconscious when hit by one of the metal objects. She later received five stitches to treat the wound. Taliban also swore at the protesters.[24]

On 7 September, 200 people protested in front of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul. Protest slogans included "Pakistan, Pakistan, Leave Afghanistan" and protestors called for "freedom". Taliban security forces broke up the protest by firing into the air and detained Wahid Ahmadi, a TOLOnews cameraman.[25] On the same day, 200 people protested in Herat.[26] The Taliban whipped protestors and shot live ammunition into the air to break up the protests.[27] Two[26] or three[27] people were shot dead in the Herat protest.[26]

On 8 September, protests took place in Kabul and Faizabad. The protests were broken up by Taliban security forces.[26] In the Kabul protests, women called for equal rights and "women in government". Women participants in the protest were whipped, tasered, beaten and verbally abused by the Taliban security forces. One female protestor said that she was not scared of the Taliban and would continue to participate in protests, stating "It is better to die once than die gradually."[27] Five journalists of the Afghan newspaper Etilaatorz were detained at the 8 September protest, with two hospitalised due to injuries.[27]

Taliban response

Despite promises of moderation, Taliban forces were reported to have assaulted journalists who were covering the August protests in Jalalabad and Kabul.[28]

On 19 August, the Taliban urged Muslim clergy to tell their congregants to remain in the country and counter "negative propaganda" on Thursday, and urged Afghans to go back to work.[3] The Taliban also called on the Imams ahead of the Friday prayers, to convince people against leaving the country.[29]

International reactions

  • In Canada, several Canadians took to the streets to express their support for evacuees that were left in Afghanistan, following the federal government's decision to end its evacuation mission.[30]
  • In Athens, hundreds of Afghans rallied to the US embassy calling on the international community for peace.[31]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Taliban militants violently disperse rare Afghan protest". AP NEWS. August 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Afghan protests spread to Kabul in early challenge to Taliban". Reuters. August 19, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Ahmad Seir, Rahim Faiez, Kathy Gannon and Jon Gambrell (August 19, 2021). "Afghans protest Taliban in emerging challenge to their rule". Associated Press.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b "'Don't be afraid,' women chant on Afghanistan's streets in protest against the Taliban". The New York Times. 2021-09-03. Archived from the original on 2021-09-03. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  5. ^ "Afghan women rally in Kunduz to show support for Taliban's interim government". United News of India. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  6. ^ Islamic Defence Force of Afghanistan [@@TalibanSoldiers] (8 September 2021). "Several women in Kunduz protesting for the new government" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Islamic Defence Force of Afghanistan [@@TalibanSoldiers] (8 September 2021). "Many women in Kunduz protesting for Afghanistan's new government" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 September 2021 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Afghans chant 'Allahu Akbar' in defiant protests against Taliban".
  9. ^ "8 Killed, 20 Wounded in Attack on Acting Defense Minister's House".
  10. ^ "Taliban Claim Attack in Kabul as Cries of Defiance Echo".
  11. ^ "Watch Afghan women on the streets of Kabul protest against the Taliban". The Week. August 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "Watch: Afghan women hold street protest as Taliban fighters look on". The Indian Express. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Taliban face stiff resistance in several provinces; violence breaks out in Pashtun-dominated Jalalabad". The Week. August 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "Taliban keep some evacuees from reaching Kabul airport, as U.S. vows to finish airlift". Reuters. August 18, 2021.
  15. ^ Rasmussen, Saeed Shah and Sune Engel (August 18, 2021). "Afghanistan's Taliban Rulers Meet Their First Political Protests With Gunfire". Wall Street Journal – via www.wsj.com.
  16. ^ a b c "As demonstrations spread, the Taliban face growing challenges in running the nation". New York Times. August 19, 2021.
  17. ^ "Afghanistan war: Deadly protests as people fight against Taliban takeover". News.Com.Au. August 19, 2021.
  18. ^ News, A. B. C. "Afghanistan updates: Biden says he would consider sanctions against Taliban". ABC News. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  19. ^ Rahimi, Zahra (2021-08-20). "Afghan Women to Taliban: 'Include Us In Your Govt'". TOLOnews. Archived from the original on 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  20. ^ "Evidence contradicts Taliban's claim to respect women's rights". the Guardian. 2021-09-03. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  21. ^ "Afghan Women Intensify Their Call for Inclusion in Future Govt". TOLOnews. 2021-09-03. Archived from the original on 2021-09-03. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  22. ^ Hakimi, Amina (2021-09-04). "Protest in Kabul to Preserve Rights Turns Violent". TOLOnews. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  23. ^ "Taliban special forces bring abrupt end to women's protest". CBS News. 2021-09-04. Archived from the original on 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  24. ^ Nossiter, Adam (2021-09-04). "Taliban Fighters Crush a Women's Protest Amid Flickers of Resistance". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2021-09-05. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  25. ^ "Calls for 'Freedom' at Anti-Pakistan Rally in Kabul". TOLOnews. 2021-09-07. Archived from the original on 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  26. ^ a b c d Beaumount, Peter (2021-09-08). "Afghan women to be banned from playing sport, Taliban say". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  27. ^ a b c d Thapar, Aakriti; Limaye, Yogita (2021-09-08). "Afghanistan: Women beaten for demanding their rights". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-09. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 2021-09-09 suggested (help)
  28. ^ "Reality behind 'press conference': Taliban brutally assault journalists for covering protests, prevent woman anchor from entering office". India Today. August 19, 2021.
  29. ^ "Taliban Urge Afghan Unity as Protests Spread to Kabul".
  30. ^ "Canadians rally to raise awareness on Afghanistan crisis as feds end evacuations".
  31. ^ "'We Want Peace From the World,' Afghans Protest in Athens".
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