The Taliban halted a blood donation drive by women activists to mark International WomenB次元官网网址檚 Day on Tuesday, activists said.

Speaking outside a Kabul hospital with seven other activists, Monesa Mubarez, the head of a womenB次元官网网址檚 rights movement, said the group had intended to stage a protest. Because of the TalibanB次元官网网址檚 brutal crackdown on womenB次元官网网址檚 rights protesters, they decided to donate blood instead.

The campaign had been thwarted by the Taliban-appointed hospital director at Jumhuriat Hospital in Kabul when hospital staff learned it was to mark womenB次元官网网址檚 day, she said.

B次元官网网址淭hey saw it as a protest,B次元官网网址� Mubarez said.

She said coordination had been made beforehand, but B次元官网网址渨hen we came here to start our campaign, the head of the hospital, who is one of the (Taliban) didnB次元官网网址檛 give us permission,B次元官网网址� she said.

Attempts to convince the cityB次元官网网址檚 central blood bank were also futile. B次元官网网址淭hey also didnB次元官网网址檛 give us permission, so our campaign was stopped,B次元官网网址� she said.

The Taliban did not respond to requests for comment.

The blood campaign was a symbolic gesture, Mubarez said, to show solidarity with Afghan women, many of whom have limited access to health facilities. B次元官网网址淲e wanted to send a message, we will not be silent,B次元官网网址� she said.

The Taliban has maintained it is committed to upholding the rights of women according to their interpretation of Islam. Their policies and pressure from the international community have afforded some freedoms compared to the first time the Taliban ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.

The Taliban said girls will be able to return to high-school later this month. Women are also permitted to attend university and work in some sectors, chiefly education and health.

But they also face restrictions. Activists protesting in favor of womenB次元官网网址檚 rights have been beaten and arrested. The Taliban leadership has not appointed women to the executive leadership.

B次元官网网址淭he Islamic Emirate is committed to upholding the Sharia rights of all Afghan women. International WomenB次元官网网址檚 Day is a great opportunity for our Afghan women to demand their legitimate rights,B次元官网网址� tweeted Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. B次元官网网址淲e protect and defend the rights of our Afghan women, God willing.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擱ahim Faiez And Samya Kullab, The Associated Press