She also said that militants were chanting ‘death to America’ but ‘seem friendly.’
CNN reporter Clarissa Ward says she was told by Taliban fighters guarding the presidential palace in Kabul to get out of the way because she was a woman.
Ward was reporting from the streets of Kabul following the Taliban’s takeover of the capital. Dressed all in black and wearing a hijab, she said that militants were maintaining law and order.
They were reportedly chanting “death to America” but “seemed friendly at the same time.”
But soon after, the reporter said her presence was creating tension.
“They just told me to stand to the side because I’m a woman,” she said
She added that the sudden collapse of the Afghan government and chaotic scenes in Kabul had resulted in women choosing to stay off the streets.
Ward said: “I have seen a few women, but I will say I have seen far fewer women than I would ordinarily see walking down the streets of Kabul.”
The reporter went on to say that many women feared for their lives after the events of recent days, and that female journalists, in particular, were “absolutely petrified” about the backlash they may suffer for their reporting.
CNN's @clarissaward reports on what Afghanistan looks like as the Taliban take over.https://t.co/pJuaHC3iBC pic.twitter.com/zx9shFE8Lj
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) August 16, 2021
“There are so many of them across the country, and they’ve been doing bold and incredible reporting for many years, and now there’s a very real fear that they might face retaliation for that or that certainly they won’t be able to do their work anymore,” she said.
On the streets of Kabul today- feel we are witnessing history pic.twitter.com/wcVKzbT6oJ
— Clarissa Ward (@clarissaward) August 16, 2021
According to the Independent, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has called on the Taliban to “respect and protect international humanitarian law,” after receiving “chilling reports” of human rights abuse from the country.
Related links:
- Malala calls on countries to open borders to Afghan refugees
- Photos show 640 Afghans crammed into fleeing US Air Force plane
- Afghan women hide at home as Taliban-occupied Kabul goes quiet
He said: “I am particularly concerned by accounts of mounting human rights violations against the women and girls of Afghanistan who fear a return to the darkest days. It is essential that the hard-won rights of Afghan women and girls are protected”.
