In a press conference held on Saturday, the 14th of Aqrab, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid commented on the recent detention of women’s rights activists, including Zarifa Yakubi and several others. The group had planned to publicly announce the formation of the Afghan Women’s Movement for Equality.

Mujahid stated that unauthorized protests are not permitted under the Taliban’s rules and alleged that these women receive “orders from above” and are protesting to “instigate disbelief.” His remarks suggest that the Taliban view independent women-led activism as both ideologically subversive and religiously offensive.

According to sources, Taliban forces—including intelligence agents—stormed the venue with around 60 personnel after organizers refused to cancel the press conference. This incident highlights the Taliban’s use of intimidation and force to preemptively silence women’s activism and their framing of gender equality as a threat to religious and state authority.