The US special envoy for Afghanistan’s human rights and women, Rina Amiri, said there is no reason that girls are not in school and “what continues to keep sanctions in place are the Taliban’s policies against the Afghan population.”
Talking to BBC’s Yalda Hakim, Amiri said that the “Taliban rendered Afghan women invisible.”
“It is the most repressive regime in the world. It is a situation which Afghan women are describing as gender apartheid. It is the worst situation in the world,” she said. “There is no Muslim majority country in the world that supports” the actions of the Islamic Emirate, she added.
Afghan female activists believe that the Islamic Emirate will not be recognized if it does not provide women with their rights.
“If the Taliban maintains the treatment of women like this—not providing the right to education for girls and the right to work for women, I am sure they will never be recognized by the international community,” said Darya Nishat, a women’s rights activist.
“The sanctions will continue on the Taliban no matter what, but the Afghans are mostly suffering from its economic effects,” said Torek Farhadi, a political analyst.
It has been over 10 months that the schools have been closed for female students in grades 7-12.
According to some sources, there are certain officials within the Islamic Emirate who support the reopening of girls’ schools above grade six, but the leadership of the Islamic Emirate has yet to provide any comment on this.
Meanwhile, the US special envoy for Afghanistan’s women, girls and human rights, Rina Amiri, said that at an Iftar dinner ambassadors from Muslim-majority countries “agreed that the Muslim world must champion the rights of Afghan women and girls.”
Amiri said that depriving women of work and girls of education is not seen in any Islamic country.
“Taliban policies denying girls and women education and jobs aren’t seen in any other Muslim-majority country,” she said on Twitter. “Discussed challenges in Afghanistan with Nordic partners, including ban on girls return to schools and attacks targeting Hazaras. Agreed on importance of unity in pushing the Taliban to reopen schools and demanding protection of all Afghans, particularly ethnic and religious minorities.”
Schools have remained closed for female students above grade six for more than eight months.
“We are happy about any meetings and efforts made in support of reopening the schools for girls. The Islamic countries have a direct impact on the Taliban because they are citing their sources from Islam,” said Naveeda Khurasani, a female rights activist.
“I hope the stance made regarding supporting Afghan women is sincere and causes an intense pressure on the group ruling Afghanistan,” said Marriam Marouf, a women’s rights activist.
This comes as female students above grade six called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen their school.
“We were happy this Eid that the Islamic Emirate might give us news about the reopening of school for girls, but unfortunately there is no news thus far,” said Sofia, a student.
The banning of girls from going to school has faced strong reactions inside and outside the country.—Tolonews
