Their act of solidarity embarked on the social media campaign #FreeHerFace, where others posted pictures of themselves with their faces covered.
“Afghan men showing up for Afghan women is not just a gesture,” women’s rights activist Mina Sharif tweeted on Twitter. “It's a turn in the story that will change everything. Bravo brothers.”
Two weeks ago, the Taliban demanded that women and girls must veil their faces in public and circumvent being outside at all. Punishment for failing to comply would be imposed on their male family members.
TECH GIANTS JOIN FORCES WITH DHS IN HERCULEAN BATTLE AGAINST CHILD EXPLOITATION
The Hill conveys that the Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue ordered all women television presenters to cover their faces on Thursday, expressing that “the decision was final and that there was no room for discussion.”
When the rule was announced at first, it was mainly ignored by female broadcasters. Yet, according to The Hill, by Sunday the new policy seemed to be in effect.
HORRIFIC FOOTAGE EMERGES: FRANTIC RESCUE EFFORTS AFTER RUSSIAN MISSILES HIT UKRAINIAN CITY (WATCH)
In addition to disobeying “women’s rights to freedom of expression, as well as personal autonomy and religious belief,” the "law" will also “prevent access to information for people who are deaf or hard of hearing who lip read or rely on visual speech cues to help them understand people speaking,” Human Rights Watch Women’s Rights Associate Director Heather Barr and researcher Sahar Fetrat reported of the decision.
HIGH-STAKES SUMMIT: G7 MULLS SANCTIONS ON IRAN, WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?
Ziauddin Yousafzai, the father of Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai, posted to the #FreeHerFace campaign Monday.
“Day 249, faces are windows to our souls and personalities,” Yousafzai noted. “Our faces are our identities. It is our basic human right to show our identities. Also when girls are enrolled in schools they get an identity.”
WATCH: NEWT GINGRICH'S APPROACH TO "DEATH TO AMERICA" CHANTS
Malala Yousafzai became an international icon of the fight for girls’ education after she was shot in the head in 2012 for resisting Taliban restrictions on female education in her home country of Pakistan. In December 2014, she became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
WATCH: THIS IS HAPPENING HERE IN PLAIN SIGHT
The Taliban have stomped on many rights of women in Afghanistan since taking control over Kabul in August, despite promises of a more indulgent regime.
Since coming to power, the radical group has blocked girls’ access to secondary education, barred women from most employment, hampered women’s freedom of movement, impeded women’s access to health care, and eliminated systems intended to protect women from violence.
BOEING WHISTLEBLOWER REVEALS SHOCKING SAFETY CONCERNS PLAGUING BOEING'S 787 DREAMLINERS
It’s time for foreign governments to do much more to bring awareness to their concerns. Diplomats meeting with the Taliban should signal support for the #FreeHerFace campaign and speak out publicly against the Taliban’s intensifying violations of the rights of women and girls.
UNTHINKABLE IMPACT: ISS DEBRIS STRIKES FLORIDA RESIDENCE, NASA LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION
Women journalists are just the latest casualties in what has become the most serious women’s rights crisis in the world. But the Taliban are not immotile, and coordinated pressure has the potential to influence their decisions. Donors and governments owe it to Afghan women and girls to do more to defend their rights.
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
