A small group of Afghan women protested near the presidential palace in Kabul on Friday, demanding equal rights for the Taliban as new Afghan leaders work to build a government and seek international recognition.
The Taliban have taken over the country a few days ago and are celebrating the departure of American troops in the past after 20 years of war. They now face the urgent challenge of governing a war-torn country that relies heavily on international for help.
The Taliban have promised a more inclusive government and a more balanced form of government than they did from 1996 to 2001. But many Afghan people, especially women, are deeply skeptical and fearful of the restoration of rights gained over the past two decades.
The protest in Kabul was the second women's protest in several days, and another was held in the western city of Herat. About 20 women with microphones gathered under the watchful eye of the Taliban gunmen, who allowed it to continue.
Women want access to education, the right to return to work and their role in governing the country. “Freedom is our motto. It makes us proud, ”reads one of their symbols.
The Taliban militant joined the crowd at one point, but witnesses said he was angry with those who stood to watch the show and not the protesters themselves.
The Taliban said women would be able to continue their education and work outside the home, rights denied to women while the military retained control. But the Taliban have vowed to establish Sharia, or Islamic law, without giving further details.
Interpretations of Islamic law vary widely throughout the Islamic world, with more than the same type. The former Taliban law is shaped by tribal customs in Afghanistan, where women are not visible in public. Those traditions are tolerant, especially in rural areas, or during the 20 years of Western-backed governments.
Of great concern to the Taliban is the economy, which is in crisis. Government employees have been without pay for months, ATMs have closed and banks have reduced their withdrawals to $ 200 a week, leaving large numbers of people without them. Aid agencies have warned of widespread famine during a severe drought.
The Taliban say the Western Union, which suspended operations after a military invasion of Kabul last month, would resume transfers, which could help Afghans earn money from relatives living abroad. But most of Afghanistan's foreign reserves are kept overseas and frozen while Western countries are thinking about how to contact the Taliban, putting pressure on their currency.
There was no immediate comment from Western Union on the resumption of work.
The Taliban say they want good relations with all countries, even the United States, and hold a series of meetings with foreign diplomats in recent days in the Gulf of Qatar, where they have held political office.
Western nations are expected to demand that the Taliban fulfill their promises to form an inclusive government and prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorist groups. They can also oppress the Taliban with women's rights, even though that would be a tough sale of the foundation of a hard-core, deeply entrenched Afghan culture, a national culture.
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