RASC News Agency: In response to the detention and harassment of women by the Taliban under the pretext of “improper veiling,” Ahmad Massoud, the leader of the National Resistance Front, asserted that the group is precipitously sealing its own demise by resorting to the abduction and disrespect of women. Mr. Massoud articulated these sentiments on Friday, January 5, through a message on his social media platform, asserting that the actions of the Taliban, purportedly under Sharia law, against Afghanistani women, defy any divine, human, or moral principles.
The leader of the National Resistance Front went on to state in his message that the abduction of women by the Taliban would only “amplify the motivation for resistance among the brave forces and champions for the dignity and freedom of Afghanistan more than ever.” While condemning the detention of these women, Ahmad Massoud declared that overlooking the “crimes” of the Taliban is “indefensible and unjustifiable.” He underscored that the responsibility for the behavior of the Taliban rests on the shoulders of the “advocates of moderation and engagement with this group.”
These pronouncements coincide with recent actions by the Ministry of propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the Taliban, which has detained several women and girls in Kabul for “improper veiling,” although the precise number of affected women remains unknown. Furthermore, Richard Bente, the UN Human Rights Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, expressed apprehension, stating that the detention of women due to “improper veiling” in Kabul exemplifies the Taliban’s heightened restrictions on women’s freedom and undermines their rights. He called on the group to release them unconditionally.
