At a gathering in the city of Herat, hundreds of civil society activists from the west zone of the country, half of whom were women, shared their demands with the current government and the international community.

They called for the reopening of girls’ schools, the return of women to work in government institutions and the removal of other restrictions on women in the country.

“Make the voice of the people from every area of Afghanistan heard with the relevant authorities, including the Islamic Emirate and the international community,” said Abdul Rahim Khuram, the deputy of a Sadai Mardum association.

Women in the gathering asked the Islamic Emirate to ensure their basic rights.

They said Afghan women should have the right to working and education same as women in other Muslim nations.

“As a woman in this society, they have not ensured anything for us as they should have,” said Masoma Jami, a civil society activist.

“Women in Nimroz also raised their voices and want to say that education should be the top priority for women. They should be protected, and they should work for their society with men under the regulations of the holy religion of Islam,” said Shah Gul Noorzada, another civil society member.

Meanwhile, local officials in Herat said the Islamic Emirate supports civil activities in the country.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan supports every act, movement, or effort that raises the voices of the people before the authorities without any shortage,” said Naeemulhaq Haqqani, director of information and culture of Herat.

The organizers of the event said that they will hold such gatherings across the country.