Taliban Claims Women's Rights Secured Amid UN Criticism

The Taliban marked International Women's Day by asserting that Afghan women live in security and have their rights protected under Islamic law, despite ongoing international criticism of their restrictive policies. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesman, emphasized that women's rights are considered within an Islamic context, differing from Western standards. However, the Taliban has implemented severe restrictions on women's education and employment since taking control in 2021, including barring girls from schooling beyond sixth grade. The United Nations has condemned these measures, with officials stating that the systematic erasure of women from public life is unacceptable and urging the Taliban to reverse their bans. Human rights activists argue that the Taliban's claims of protecting women's rights are contradicted by the reality of gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Mujahid's statements have been met with skepticism, as research highlights a significant decline in the psychological well-being of Afghan women due to these oppressive policies.