RASC News Agency: The European Union, in a recent statement, strongly criticized the Taliban’s newly enacted “Vice and Virtue” law, labeling it as another “serious blow” to the rights of Afghanistani women and girls. The EU emphasized, “This is something we cannot tolerate.” The statement further underlined that the law not only reinforces but expands the already severe restrictions imposed on the lives of Afghanistani citizens, particularly targeting women.
The statement read: “We will remain vigilant in monitoring the erosion of human rights and democratic values, especially in areas where authoritarian regimes challenge these universal principles.” In response to the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan, coupled with the extreme restrictions imposed on women and girls, the European Union called for the extension of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan.
The EU’s statement added: “This is why we are submitting a resolution in this session to extend the mission of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan.” It further stressed that the conditions imposed by the Taliban regime, particularly the draconian restrictions on women’s education and employment, demand the “urgent and complete attention” of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Taliban’s “Commanding the Good and Forbidding the Evil” law, sanctioned by their leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, is a 114-page document containing 35 articles, each introducing new restrictive measures, especially concerning women. The law grants unprecedented authority to the “Hisbah” enforcers, tasked with ensuring these harsh regulations are followed.
This legislation is considered one of the most regressive and inhumane laws ever introduced, marking a new low in the history of human rights. The European Union reiterated its condemnation of the law, emphasizing that the Taliban’s latest directive further undermines the already fragile rights of Afghanistani women and girls. It paints the Taliban regime as one determined to entrench misogyny and suppress women’s freedoms. The EU concluded its statement with a call for coordinated international action to address these severe human rights violations and prevent Afghanistan from plunging deeper into a state of repression.
The resolution submitted by the European Union highlights the urgent need for sustained global pressure on the Taliban regime, ensuring that international bodies continue their oversight and that the plight of Afghanistani women and girls is not overlooked in the face of growing tyranny.
