RASC News Agency: In an editorial, “The Washington Post” has asserted that the Taliban, through their draconian laws against Afghanistani citizens, particularly women, are attempting to establish “gender apartheid” within society, a move that could plunge Afghanistan back into conflict. The editorial highlights that, driven by “extremist Islamist ideology,” the Taliban, after reclaiming power, banned education for all women and girls above sixth grade, initially calling it a “temporary measure.” However, it has become evident that nothing about the Taliban’s “oppression of women” has been temporary.
The editorial notes: “When the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan following the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021, this radical Islamist group banned education for all girls and women beyond sixth grade. The Taliban claimed it was merely a temporary measure, yet they followed it up with a series of decrees and laws that stripped women of their rights to education, healthcare, livelihood, and freedom. Schools were never reopened. It is clear now that nothing about the Taliban’s mistreatment of women has been temporary.”
The newspaper further argues that the Taliban’s new law confirms that “this group seeks to create a society governed by gender apartheid,” where women’s voices are silenced, their rights stripped away, and they become entirely dependent on men. The editorial also declares that Afghanistan is currently experiencing “the worst women’s rights crisis in the world.”
The editorial continues, stating that the Taliban’s promises and statements during their three years of rule in Afghanistan have been “futile reassurances,” as they have been actively engaged in “dehumanization.” According to the editorial, the exclusion of women and girls from education and commerce not only represents a “blatant violation of human rights” by the Taliban but also harms Afghanistan’s already struggling economy. This development coincides with the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Justice announcing earlier this week that Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has ratified a new law titled the “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,” which is now in effect.
This law imposes severe restrictions and prohibitions on the rights and freedoms of citizens, particularly women, to the extent that it bans women’s voices from being heard in public spaces where men are present.
