Taliban-led government in Afghanistan stifles women’s rights, says US Chief

Women in Afghanistan have been experiencing several challenges in their lives, including the inability to attend educational institutions or work in offices due to the ban imposed by the existing government, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the females have to live in exile in their own country.

The ban on education by the government has crushed the basic rights of Afghan women and girls. The UN chief has shown lots of concern over women’s rights in Afghanistan.

The spokesperson of the Afghan government, Zabiullah Mujahid, condemned the claims made by the UN Secretary General regarding women’s rights in Afghanistan.

He went on to say that the international community should not put pressure on the current government in the context of women’s rights.

Female students in Afghanistan have been demanding that the Taliban government open education centres and allow girls to attend schools, madrassas, and other educational institutions, said Nargis Niazi, a student.

The Taliban has not allowed female students to sit in university entrance exams. Apart from this, women have been barred from working in non-governmental organisations, which has been criticised on national and international platforms.

The decree of the Taliban government to deprive women of education has been condemned by several Islamic countries and organisations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). They believe that it is against Islamic law.

Since August 15, 2021, de facto authorities have banned girls from attending school, disallowed women, and forbidden girls from moving alone. Women are not being permitted to use gyms or parks. Such kinds of restrictions mean that Afghan women have to confine themselves in their respective houses like prisoners.