KABUL : Taliban forces in Helmand province, Afghanistan, have arrested a young girl who was working in men’s clothing. According to foreign media reports, a 13-year-old girl named Nooriya had been working in a cafe under the name “Noor Ahmed” for the past three years. In a viral video on social media, Nooriya said that after her father’s death, she was the sole breadwinner of her family and was forced to work wearing men’s clothing due to extreme poverty. She said she tried to hide her identity, but her secret was eventually revealed and she was taken into custody. The incident comes at a time when women in Afghanistan are facing severe restrictions on education, employment and movement since the Taliban returned to power. Thousands of women have lost their jobs due to restrictions on women working in the public and private sectors. Nooriya’s arrest has sparked a strong reaction on social media and has once again highlighted the difficulties and fundamental rights issues faced by Afghan women.
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