RASC News Agency: Addressing concerns raised by the United Nations Assistance Missions in Afghanistan (UNAMA) regarding the arbitrary arrests of women and girls by the Taliban group, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, recently offered his perspective. Dismissing UNAMA’s concerns as inaccurate and misplaced, Mujahid asserted that Afghanistani women willingly adhere to the hijab and do not require external pressure. He emphasized that the recent arrests of women and girls were not influenced by any external factors.
On January 11th, UNAMA voiced deep concern over the Taliban’s arbitrary detention of women and girls, specifically on charges related to their hijab. Roza Otunbayeva, the head of UNAMA, highlighted that these arrests not only draw negative attention but also elevate the risk for women. However, Zabihullah Mujahid responded to these concerns by asserting that UNAMA’s worries about women’s rights were unfounded. He claimed that Afghanistani women willingly observe the hijab, and external pressure is unnecessary.
Furthermore, the Taliban spokesperson dismissed reports of the arrest of young women and girls as mere propaganda. Despite previously confirming the arrests and punishment of women and girls for not wearing a veil, Mujahid now denies these claims. It is noteworthy that over the past week, the Taliban group has detained several girls from various regions in Kabul and Ghazni provinces for their failure to wear the hijab, sparking widespread reactions both within Afghanistan and internationally.
