Taliban forces open fire on protesting women

epa09657954 Taliban patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan, 27 December 2021. Afghanistan's powerful Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, has ordered the transporters to not offer rides to women on a journey of more than 45 miles (72 Kilometers) if they are not accompanied by a male chaperone, and wearing a hijab while banning music inside taxis as well. The Islamist militia, which returned to power in Kabul on 15 August has banned women from work and girls from secondary schools driving international condemnation. EPA-EFE/STRINGER

The Taliban members on Tuesday opened fire on protesters in Kabul near a building that housed the ministry of women’s affairs in past, a participant of the demonstration told Sputnik.

“Taliban opened fire on protesters to stop or suppress protest,” she said, adding that filming of the demonstration was not allowed.

According to the demonstrator, on Tuesday women came out in protest, demanding “employment, food and freedom”.

Another source told Sputnik that the Taliban members were firing in the air. While people close to the Taliban movement claimed that the firing was opened “at a considerable distance” from the place where the demonstration was held.

After the Joe Biden administration had announced the end of Washington’s 20-year-long military operation in Afghanistan and the launch of its troop pullout, the Taliban embarked on an offensive against Afghan government forces.

On August 15, Taliban fighters swept into Kabul without encountering any resistance and gained full control over the Afghan capital within a few hours. Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani stated he had stepped down to prevent any bloodshed and subsequently fled the country. On September 6, the Taliban declared a complete victory in Afghanistan and on September 7 formed an interim government that hasn’t yet been officially recognized by any country.