Herat women complain of street harassment

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A number of women in western Herat province have complained of street harassment, calling it the ugliest social interaction.

Masuma, one of Herat inhabitants, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “We cannot wear makeup even for a party outside our homes. Most of the time, we hear unpleasant words.”

Shakila, another resident of Herat, also grumbled about the hostile social behaviour and street harassment.

Parwin Tufani, a women rights activist, believed street harassment was considered a disgrace and women suffer more from this area.

She called the slightest disturbance to women, — either verbal or physical — as a violation of their rights. She insisted women’s rights must never be abused.

Police spokesman Mohammad Shah Rasouli said more than a hundred people had been arrested on charges of women’s harassment. Security forces were obliged to investigate the issue and women’s complaints, he added.

Rasouli revealed about 100 individuals had been referred to the attorney-general’s office. He claimed street harassment had decreased recently.

The police spokesman reaffirmed the government’s commitment to severely punishing those harassing women on streets and creating other forms of chaos.

sa/mud

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