ProjectFearlessnessJul 19, 2023

“Reports of the forceful suppression of a peaceful protest by women against the ban on beauty salons, the latest denial of women’s rights in Afghanistan, are deeply concerning. Afghans have the right to express views free from violence. De facto authorities must uphold this."

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

#Afghanistan
#LetAfghanWomenWork

https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-beauty-salons-protest-women/32510559.html

Taliban Violently Disperses Protest Against Closure Of Beauty Salons In Afghanistan

Security forces used water cannons and fired guns into the air to disperse a women’s protest in Kabul on July 19 over the Taliban-led government’s decision to close women’s hair and beauty salons.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Show threadProjectFearlessnessJul 20, 2023

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have closed down all the beauty salons. They say the country can't afford such 'luxuries' in the current economic climate.

They lie. The reason they have closed down the beauty salons is because they are the last places in Afghanistan where women can gather and talk without men present.

To the Taliban, there is nothing more terrifying than places where women can gather, and talk, and organise.

#Afghanistan
#LetAfghanWomenSpeak

Show threadProjectFearlessnessJul 20, 2023

The Taliban's decision to close beauty salons in Afghanistan may seem petty, spiteful and inconsequential to us at first.

To Afghan women, beauty salons meant so much more than a little pampering. They were their last safe space.

They were one of the last places women could work, the last businesses they were allowed to own, and the very last public space in Afghanistan women could gather without a male escort.

The Taliban know what they're doing.

#Afghanistan

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66244408

Afghan women protest against beauty salon closures - BBC News

Taliban guards allegedly used tasers to disperse the women protesting in the capital Kabul.

BBC News
Show threadProjectFearlessnessJul 20, 2023

I'll repeat this point, again, because it's important and illuminating.

Beauty Salons in Afghanistan were the very last place in the entire country where women could go without a male chaperone to gather, socialise, talk, and organise.

Yes, the Taliban hate women. Also, they are terrified of them.

#Afghanistan
#LetAfghanWomenWork
#LetAfghanWomenWork

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/19/work-food-freedom-afghan-women-protest-beauty-parlour-ban

‘Work, food, freedom’: Afghan women protest beauty parlour ban

Security forces break up Kabul protest by dozens of women agaisnt a ban on beauty salons.

Al Jazeera
Show threadProjectFearlessnessJul 20, 2023

Women protesting the Taliban's forced closure of beauty salons in Afghanistan.

“We are here for justice. We want work, food and freedom.”

'Farzana',
Protestor,
Kabul

#Afghanistan
#LetAfghanWomenWork

Show threadProjectFearlessnessJul 20, 2023

Women protest closure of beauty salons in Afghanistan.

“Today, we arranged this protest to talk and negotiate."

“But today, no one came to talk to us, to listen to us. They didn’t pay any attention to us and after a while, they dispersed us by aerial firing and water cannon.”

Salon Worker,
Kabul,
Afghanistan

#Afghanistan
#LetAfghanWomenWork

Show threadProjectFearlessnessJul 20, 2023

Taliban Violently Disperses Women's Protest Against Beauty Salon Closures In Afghanistan

"They were very violent. They fired shots in the air and sprayed water on us. They beat the girls. They took their mobile phones."

"They shot around us. They hit us with electric batons. They beat us with rods. We ran from alley to alley."

"I am 15 years old, and I want to defend my mother's rights, my sister's rights, everyone's rights."

#LetAfghanWomenWork
#LetAfghanWomenLive

https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-beauty-salons-protest-women/32510559.html

Taliban Violently Disperses Protest Against Closure Of Beauty Salons In Afghanistan

Security forces used water cannons and fired guns into the air to disperse a women’s protest in Kabul on July 19 over the Taliban-led government’s decision to close women’s hair and beauty salons.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Show threadPatriciaMaskellJul 20, 2023

@ProjectFearlessness

I think the minister got this wrong, at least he's apologised, but in his initial comments he didn't consider women and girls as far as I can see

https://news.sky.com/story/tobias-ellwood-senior-tory-mp-who-appeared-to-praise-taliban-in-video-faces-being-ousted-from-role-12923998

Tobias Ellwood: Senior Tory MP who appeared to praise Taliban in video faces being ousted from role

Sky
Show threadProjectFearlessnessJul 20, 2023
@PatriciaLewis I'm trying hard not to comment on Elwood's remarks, they're so far off the mark, and even his apology is hard to make sense of. I'll be kind and say the guilt of it all has got to him.
Show threadPatriciaMaskell
@ProjectFearlessness yes, I agree. I heard some of his apology via the NewsAgents podcast, I thought he sounded really thrown. I wonder if he was just completely taken in by what he was told, and didn't give women and girls a second thought. He's meant to be one of the better ones out of this lot. One of the reasonably competent ones, heaven help us!
Jul 20, 2023 at 8:06pmWeb
Show threadProjectFearlessnessJul 20, 2023
@PatriciaLewis I know. I don't know what to make of Ellwood now. He's normally one of the least terrible tories. I agreed with Mark Francois, who said the video was utterly bizarre. And then I also agreed with Mark Francois on Monday when he said his government was bent. It's been an odd week.