The spokesperson for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, has responded to remarks made during the Ninth Conference of Women Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Islamabad, stating that women’s rights in Afghanistan are protected in accordance with Islamic law (Sharia).
Mujahid said that the efforts of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation are commendable and that the Taliban support its initiatives. However, he stressed that all rights granted to women under Islam have been safeguarded and upheld in Afghanistan in line with Islamic principles and Sharia.
He added: “As this is an Islamic organisation and bears an Islamic identity, we consider it our duty to protect and uphold all the rights that Islam has granted to women.”
The Taliban spokesperson further stated that rights for Afghan women as defined by international organisations and Western societies are not acceptable to the Taliban because, according to him, such rights conflict with Islamic principles.
Mujahid also said that the Taliban administration is governed by Islamic scholars, who, in his view, possess the greatest knowledge and authority regarding Islamic rights and rulings.
These remarks came after Pakistan’s Foreign Minister called on the Taliban, during the Ninth Conference of Women Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, to restore the fundamental rights of Afghan women.
The Taliban did not send a representative to the conference. According to some sources, the absence was due to the lack of female officials within the Taliban administration.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
