Afghan women protest on eve of UN day against violence

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is usually marked around the world on November 25.

More than a dozen Afghan women protested briefly in Kabul Thursday, calling for their rights to be recognised on the eve of the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Afghan women have been squeezed out of public life since the Taliban's return to power in August last year, but small groups have staged flash protests that are usually quickly shut down, sometimes violently.

"We will fight for our rights to the end and we will not surrender," read a sign in the Dari language carried by one of the protesters.

They chanted "women, life, solidarity" as they marched.

Most of the group wore dark sunglasses, their heads covered with a veil and a surgical mask obscuring their face.

Taliban fighters kept a close eye on proceedings, while cars carrying intelligence service officials circled the neighbourhood.

Organisers said later that the Taliban had briefly detained three of the protesters, releasing them after they were "humiliated and insulted".