According to AFP, a group of Afghanistan women are staging a hunger strike in Cologne to protest against "gender apartheid" in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
"Today the women of Afghanistan don't have school, university, cars, restaurants, everything is banned," Zarmina Paryani told AFP.
One of five sisters who fled to Germany in 2022 after being detained by the Taliban for participating in a rally in Afghanistan is the activist.
Tamana Paryani, one of the other sisters, is also participating in the strike, scheduled to last 12 days.
Tamana Paryani shared a picture of a sign stating on the social media platform X.
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Tamana Zaryab Paryani, a women's rights activist from Afghanistan, has started a hunger strike with her sisters in Germany to protest Taliban's anti-women policies. Paryani demans Germany to recognize 'gender apartheid' in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/9AtkWRVtpX
— SHRW (@ShirinHrw) September 2, 2023
"Afghanistan should be recognised as a country where gender apartheid exists."
The Taliban "arrest, torture and kill political and human rights activists every day... but the world is silent", Zarmina Paryani said.
In the big city in western Germany, sixteen women started the strike four days prior, but as of Monday, just three remained, she added.
The Taliban have implemented a rigid interpretation of Islam since retaking control in August 2021, with women bearing the brunt of what the UN has dubbed "gender apartheid" policies.
Girls and women have been prohibited from enrolling in high school and universities and going to parks, fairs, and gyms.
Many have also been prevented from working for UN organizations or NGOs and have had their government employment terminated or been paid to stay at home.
