A rare public protest by Afghan women in Kabul has been met with lethal force, with two demonstrators reportedly killed by Taliban security forces. The protest, which took place on Wednesday in the capital's Pul-e-Khishti district, saw a small group of women demanding the right to work and education, rights severely curtailed since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Witnesses described a sudden escalation as security personnel opened fire on the crowd, which had gathered outside a former university building.
The Taliban-run interior ministry has denied the use of live ammunition, claiming that only warning shots were fired and that no fatalities occurred. However, hospital sources confirmed to Reuters that two women were admitted with gunshot wounds and later died. The protest underscores the growing frustration among Afghan women, who have been systematically excluded from public life under the Taliban regime.
Since seizing control, the Taliban has banned girls from secondary education, restricted women’s employment, and enforced strict dress codes. This latest incident raises questions about the Taliban’s ability to maintain order while adhering to its own stated commitment to human rights, a key demand of the international community. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has called for an independent investigation, while human rights groups have condemned the violence.
The protest also highlights the risk of further destabilisation in a country already grappling with economic collapse and humanitarian crisis. For the Taliban, which claims to have changed since its previous rule in the 1990s, such displays of force risk alienating both domestic supporters and international donors. Yet, with internal divisions and a lack of diplomatic recognition, the group shows little sign of altering its course.
As the international community watches, this event may prove a critical test of the Taliban’s governance and its commitment to basic freedoms.
