RASC News Agency: Agence France-Presse (AFP) has highlighted the Taliban’s “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” law, stating that the oppression of Afghanistani women continues relentlessly before the eyes of the world. The news agency reports that while Western countries, led by the United States and the European Union, have condemned these actions, it appears they have ultimately yielded to the Taliban regime.
The Taliban’s enforcement of this law has sparked intense global debate and widespread reactions in recent weeks. AFP interviewed several Afghanistani activists regarding this law. Shakiba Hashimi, the head of the “Free Afghanistan” organization, stated, “People are no longer allowed to hear a woman’s voice or even look at a woman. It’s as if the Taliban are telling us, ‘We want to slowly kill you.'”
The United Nations, the European Union, and various international human rights organizations have expressed deep concern over this law, with the UN calling for its immediate repeal. However, AFP asserts that global condemnations have proven ineffective. Melissa Cornet, a gender issues expert on Afghanistan, discussed the Taliban’s escalating misogynistic policies. She noted, “The Taliban initially sought recognition from the international community. However, when it became clear that they would not be granted Afghanistan’s seat at the United Nations or access to the frozen central bank assets, the group’s stance took a sharp turn.”
Cornet further explained that within the extremist ideology of the Taliban, reopening schools and universities for women would be seen as a defeat. Heather Barr, the associate director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, remarked that the lack of an effective international response has created the perception that women’s rights are not a priority for global leaders.
