A rare public demonstration by Afghan women in Kabul turned deadly on Wednesday when Taliban security forces opened fire, killing at least two protesters and wounding several others. The protest, which called for the right to work and education, was met with live ammunition and baton charges, according to eyewitnesses and hospital sources.
The United Kingdom has condemned the violence and demanded that the Taliban leadership hold those responsible to account. In a statement, the Foreign Office in London described the incident as “an unconscionable attack on the fundamental rights of Afghan women and girls.” The UK urged the Taliban to abide by international norms and ensure the safety of peaceful demonstrators.
The protest, which began outside a former women’s university in western Kabul, was one of the first organised challenges to Taliban policies since the group seized power in August 2021. Women chanted slogans including “Bread, work, freedom” and “Open the schools.” They carried banners demanding equal access to employment and education, rights that have been systematically curtailed under Taliban rule.
Taliban spokesmen initially denied that security forces used live fire, but later admitted that shots were fired. A spokesman for the Ministry of Interior said an investigation was under way and that “some individuals” had been detained. The Taliban’s stance on women’s rights remains a major obstacle to international recognition and aid.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan also condemned the violence. “The use of force against peaceful protesters is unacceptable and must stop,” said a UNAMA spokesperson.
Britain’s demand for accountability reflects a broader frustration among Western capitals. Despite a year of diplomatic engagement, the Taliban has refused to reverse its edicts restricting women’s participation in public life. Girls are barred from secondary school, women are prohibited from working in most government jobs, and they are required to cover their faces in public.
The incident underscores the fragility of women’s rights in Afghanistan and the limits of international pressure. Protests have been rare due to the risk of reprisal and the collapse of civil society under Taliban rule. Wednesday’s demonstration was planned via word of mouth and on encrypted messaging apps, organisers said.
The UK, along with other nations, has imposed sanctions on Taliban leaders and has frozen billions of dollars in Afghan central bank assets. However, it has stopped short of formally recognising the regime. Wednesday’s deaths may harden that stance and complicate ongoing humanitarian negotiations.
Taliban officials maintain that their interpretation of Sharia law protects women’s rights within an Islamic framework. But critics argue that the regime’s policies are driven more by cultural conservatism and fear of dissent than by religious doctrine.
The protest and its violent suppression come as the Taliban faces internal divisions and a deteriorating economy. International aid agencies warn that Afghanistan is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, with millions facing food insecurity.
Britain’s Foreign Office said it would raise the matter at the United Nations Security Council. “The Taliban must understand that their legitimacy depends on their treatment of women,” the statement read. “The world is watching.”
