Yasmin Ghiathi, a women’s rights activist, has voiced concerns over the closure of girls’ schools, the prohibition of women from working in institutions, the ban on higher education, limited roles for women in the media, and the suppression of women participating in demonstrations. “Afghan women face severe deprivation and exclusion from various sectors of society, a reality that the world cannot ignore,” Ghiashi told Kubha News.
International attention on the plight of Afghan women has also intensified. The US State Department has condemned the mistreatment of Afghan women in its recent statements. Spokesperson Mito Miller stated in a press conference, “The mistreatment of women and girls in Afghanistan is unequivocally condemned.”
Prior to this, the Human Rights Commission expressed deep concern about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. “Women in Afghanistan are deprived of fundamental social rights,” Volkertrak remarked during a human rights conference.
Despite Taliban assertions of improved women’s rights since assuming power, human rights defenders argue that the situation for women in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, prompting serious concerns.
Shakira Aslami, a member of the Afghanistan Women’s Solidarity Association, emphasized the need for Afghan women’s voices to be heard, stating, “Afghan women are being deprived of their rights.”
Meanwhile, in international forums, Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has asserted that the situation of women in Afghanistan has improved. Muttaqi highlighted the enrollment of over 2.8 million girls in primary schools during a recent interview with Tolo News TV.
However, women’s rights activists like Narges Momand criticize the Taliban government for violating women’s human rights over the past three years. Momand highlighted the continued closure of girls’ schools and the imposition of restrictions across various sectors.
The Taliban leadership’s stance on women’s rights and education remains divided. While some officials stress adherence to Islamic principles and the provision of rights within an Islamic framework, others advocate for universal education.
In his latest report, Richard Bennett, the special rapporteur of the United Nations, called on the international community to prioritize human rights in dealing with the Taliban. Speaking at the 55th meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on May 10, Bennett underscored the impact of Taliban actions on Afghan women’s lives.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed Bennett’s report as propaganda against the Taliban government, signaling ongoing tensions between the Taliban and international human rights observers.