Women's Freedom Lantern Movement: Nowruz Symbolizes Victory of Light Over Darkness Amid Rights Bans

The Women's Freedom Lantern Movement of Afghan Women issued a statement marking Nowruz, describing it as a symbol of the inevitable victory of light over darkness and spring over the winter of tyranny.

The group said the new solar year has arrived while Afghan women and girls remain deprived of basic human rights, including education, work and free movement. They emphasized that although schools and universities are closed to girls above the sixth grade and women, the flame of knowledge will not be extinguished in their hearts.

The statement read: "We, with lanterns in hand, search for the path to freedom in the alleys and backstreets of this Yalda night."

Members defined the real spring as the day when no girl sheds tears behind the closed doors of school and no woman is imprisoned at home for the crime of being a woman. They added: "We believe that winter is passing and shame will remain on the coal."

The movement called on the international community and human rights institutions to stand with justice-seeking Afghan women in the new year, rather than remaining mere spectators.

The Taliban have begun the fourth year of education without the presence of girls above the sixth grade in secondary schools and women in universities.