"If my sister and my mother can't study, I don't accept this education, I'm going to tear it up," protested Ismail Mashal, an Afghan teacher, live on television.
On TOLOnews, one of the most important private channels in Afghanistan, with tears in his eyes and a trembling voice, the man tears up his diplomas.
A strong gesture to denounce the latest measures of the Taliban power depriving women of access to university.
“My protest will continue”
“As a man and as a teacher, I was not able to do anything else for them, and I felt that my certificates had become useless.
So I tore them up,” the 35-year-old teacher explained afterwards.
Images of his anger on the TV set, picked up by social media, have since gone viral.
Hailed by some, his behavior was also criticized by supporters of the Taliban.
“I raise my voice.
I am standing with my sisters (students).
My protest will continue even if it costs me my life,” he continues.
In the deeply conservative and patriarchal society of Afghanistan, it is rare to see a man protesting in favor of women, but the professor assures that he will continue his campaign for their rights.
Women's demonstrations are sporadic and rarely bring together more than forty participants.