The Taliban’s Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,Khalid Hanafi, said during a meeting with Arafat Jamal, the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) in Afghanistan, that tier ministry is prepared to listen to women’s concerns around the clock and ensure that they enjoy their rights.
According to a statement issued by the Taliban’s ministry for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice, Hanafi praised UNHCR’s assistance and said that efforts have been made to provide facilities and services for returning migrants and refugees. He also claimed that since the Taliban’s return to power, the religious and fundamental rights of hundreds of thousands of people have been protected.
Meanwhile, Arafat Jamal stated that since 2023, approximately six million Afghan refugees have returned to the country, representing nearly 15 percent of Afghanistan’s total population. According to him, UNHCR is working not only to provide cash assistance but also to support returnees with shelter and the establishment of small businesses.
These remarks come at a time when the Taliban’s ministry for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice has no female employees in its organizational structure, and the restrictions imposed on women’s education, employment, and many social activities continue to draw criticism from both domestic and international organizations.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
