KABUL: Taliban forces on Thursday used gunfire to disperse a women’s rally in the Afghan capital in support of protests in Iran over the death of a woman in morality police custody.

Neighbours Afghanistan and Iran are both run by hardline Islamist governments that use religious police to enforce strict dress codes on women.

Dozens of people have been killed in demonstrations that have erupted over 22-year-old Mahsa Amini’s death in Tehran after she was arrested for allegedly breaching rules on hijabs and modest clothing.

Chanting the same “Women, life, freedom” mantra used in Iran, about 25 women protested in front of Kabul’s Iranian embassy before Taliban forces fired into the air, a correspondent reported.

“The message of today’s demonstration in Kabul is that women are not alone in the world and are demanding their rights from the international community,” a woman activist who took part in the protest said.

Another protester in Kabul, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said by phone that “we need to end these horrific governments”. “People here are also tired of the Taliban’s crimes. We are sure that one day our people will rise in the same way as the Iranian people,” she said.

Women in headscarves carried banners that read: “Iran has risen, now it’s our turn!” and “From Kabul to Iran, say no to dictatorship!” Taliban forces swiftly snatched the banners and tore them in front of the protesters.

They also threatened to beat the protesters with their rifle butts, and ordered some journalists to delete videos of the rally.

Protests staged by women in Afghanistan have become increasingly rare after the detention of core activists at the start of the year.

Like in Iran, Afghan women risk arrest, violence and stigma for taking part in demonstrations calling for their rights.

Since returning to power, the Taliban have issued a slew of restrictions controlling women’s lives based on their strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law. Many of the rules — including dress code, segregation from men and travelling with a male guardian — are monitored by the Taliban’s vice and virtue police, who roam the streets dressed in white.

Women must fully cover themselves in public, preferably with the all-encompassing burqa, according to the rules, which are enforced with varying rigour across the country.