Taliban taking measures to ensure ‘comfortable, prosperous life’ for women: supreme leader

• Girls standing as free and dignified human beings restored: Akhundzada.
• All establishments obliged to assist girls in securing marriage: Taliban chief.
• “Measures taken to supply girls with affluent life based on Sharia”.

The Afghan Taliban supreme chief has mentioned that steps have been being taken to guard the nation’s girls from “conventional oppressions” and added that their standing as “free and dignified human beings” had been restored.

Hibatullah Akhundzada — who hardly ever seems in public and guidelines by decree from the Taliban´s birthplace in Kandahar — issued a press release on Sunday to mark the start of Eid ul Adha holidays.

He mentioned the nation’s interim authorities led by Taliban have been taking measures to supply girls with a “comfy and affluent life based on Islamic Sharia”.

The United Nations expressed “deep concern” final week that girls have been being disadvantaged of their rights beneath Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities and warned of systematic gender apartheid.

Since returning to energy in August 2021, Taliban authorities have stopped women and girls from attending highschool or college, banned them from parks, gyms and public baths, and ordered them to cowl up when leaving residence.

They’ve additionally barred them from working for the UN or NGOs, whereas most feminine authorities workers have been dismissed from their jobs or are being paid to remain at residence.

Nonetheless, Akhundzada mentioned “crucial steps have been taken for the betterment of girls as half of the society”.

“All establishments have been obliged to assist girls in securing marriage, inheritance and different rights,” his assertion learn.

Assured rights

Akhundzada mentioned a six-point decree issued in December 2021 assured girls their rights.

Amongst different issues, the decree outlawed pressured marriages and enshrined the appropriate to inheritance and divorce.

“The damaging elements of the previous 20-year occupation associated to girls´s hijab and misguidance will finish quickly,” Akhundzada mentioned.

A report back to the UN’s Human Rights Council final week by Richard Bennett, the particular rapporteur for Afghanistan, mentioned the plight of girls and women within the nation “was among the many worst on the earth”.

“Grave, systematic and institutionalised discrimination towards girls and women is on the coronary heart of Taliban ideology and rule, which additionally provides rise to issues that they might be answerable for gender apartheid,” Bennett mentioned.

UN Deputy Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif added: “Over the previous 22 months, each side of girls’s and women’ lives has been restricted.”

“They’re discriminated towards in each means.”

Regardless of his uncommon public appearances, Akhundzada has repeatedly issued prolonged “state-of-the-nation”-style statements forward of vital Muslim festivals and holidays.

“On the nationwide degree, the independence of Afghanistan has been restored as soon as once more,” he mentioned.

He praised Afghanistan’s financial resilience, efforts to eradicate poppy cultivation, and the advance in nationwide safety.

“It’s our shared duty to guard and serve our Islamic system,” he mentioned.

“The present system is the results of the sacrifices of 1000’s of mujahideen. Let’s stand by one another, remove conspiracies, worth safety and prosperity and work collectively for its additional enhancement.”