Rahmatullah Andar, former spokesperson for the National Security Council under the republican system, has criticized recent restrictions on women in the country, describing the Taliban’s policies as contrary to the true spirit of Islam and historical realities.
Andar stated that the current situation reflects a paradox: on the one hand, conditions for the detention and imprisonment of women exist, while on the other hand they are denied fundamental rights to education, employment, and schooling. He added that Afghan women may stand alongside men in queues for beggars and in crowded public spaces, yet are not allowed to sit alongside them in formal educational classrooms.
Referring to Islamic history, he emphasized that Islam, unlike many societies of its time, granted women respect, freed them from ignorance and coercive traditions, opened the doors of mosques to them, and provided rights to worship, education, and social participation.
Andar criticized the current situation, stating that numerous doors have been closed to women in areas such as work, education, trade, and public life by the Taliban. He also referred to certain religious viewpoints that have sparked public debate regarding the status of women, arguing that such positions increase social tensions rather than promoting balance.
These remarks come amid widespread domestic and international reactions to the restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan, with many international organizations and Islamic countries viewing these measures as being in conflict with human rights and the spirit of Islamic principles.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
