Afghanistan: Taliban Tell Working Women To Stay At Home
Working women in Afghanistan must stay at home until
proper systems are in place to ensure their safety, a
Taliban spokesman has told reporters.
“It’s a very temporary procedure,” spokesman Zabihullah
Mujahid said.
The Taliban, which enforced a strict version of Islamic law
when they ran Afghanistan before 2001, retook full control
of the country nine days ago.
The UN has highlighted “credible” reports of abuses by the
Taliban, notably restrictions on women.
UN Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet
said on Tuesday that women’s rights were a “fundamental
red line”.
In his news conference in Kabul on Tuesday, the Taliban
spokesman also addressed the US-led evacuation from
the capital, Kabul.
Afghans should not try to go to the airport, Mr Mujahid
said, citing the chaotic situation there
The US should stop “encouraging” them to leave as
Afghanistan needs their talents, he added
The UK, France and Germany have called for an extension
to the 31 August deadline set by the US to leave
Afghanistan
However UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has admitted
that President Joe Biden is unlikely to extend the deadline.
US troops control Kabul airport from where some 58,700
people have been evacuated so far. Mr Mujahid reaffirmed
the Taliban’s position that the operation should end by 31
August.
On the situation of Afghan women, he said that any
restrictions would be short-lived.
