Afghanistan Times
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Kabul: Taliban leaders have pushed back against escalating accusations of gender-based discrimination against women and girls during the recent U.N. General Assembly. Maulavi Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s deputy prime minister for political affairs, claimed in an interview that “the situation is not as it is portrayed” internationally.
His remarks followed a joint initiative by nearly two dozen countries, including Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia, calling for accountability for the Taliban’s systematic exclusion of women from public life since their return to power in 2021. The Taliban’s stringent interpretation of Islamic law has led to bans on girls’ secondary education and severe restrictions on women’s participation in the workforce.
Kabir insisted that all Afghans’ rights are protected under Islamic principles, arguing that the closure of secondary schools for girls is not permanent and has not been officially sanctioned. While he acknowledged the suspension of education beyond the sixth grade, he noted that women can attend religious seminaries and pursue medical education, with some hospitals in Kabul run by female directors.
Countries supporting the initiative, including Spain, Sweden, and Belgium, urged the Taliban to comply with international treaties aimed at eliminating discrimination against women. They emphasized that Afghanistan’s failure to meet its human rights obligations is a significant barrier to normalizing relations.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women, likening it to “some of the most egregious systems of oppression in recent history.” He pledged to amplify Afghan women’s voices and advocate for their roles both domestically and globally.
Kabir criticized the U.N. for not recognizing the Taliban’s authority, asserting, “We have met our obligations,” and contending that the Taliban govern with popular support.
