The plight of Afghan women under the Taliban regime has reached a harrowing low point, with their fundamental rights eroding at an alarming rate. The latest blow came on October 26th, when Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s Minister of Vice and Virtue, issued a new ban forbidding adult women from speaking aloud in the presence of other adult women during prayer. While this move sparked outrage and condemnation around the world, the Taliban’s spokesperson, Saiful Islam Khyber, denied the allegations, dismissing them as “brainless and illogical.” However, he did not deny Hanafi’s statement that adult women must refrain from performing “Takbir,” the Islamic prayer or reciting the Quran aloud in the presence of other women. This incident underscores the Taliban’s relentless assault on women’s freedoms, even as the group seeks international recognition and diplomatic acceptance.
Despite the Taliban’s repressive policies, a growing number of countries have welcomed Talibani diplomats, signaling a shift in the international landscape. China was the first country to formally recognize a Talibani diplomat, followed by the UAE and Uzbekistan, with the latter even sending its prime minister to Kabul. These developments have fueled speculation that the Taliban is on the path to gaining international legitimacy. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s consideration of removing the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations raises serious concerns, as it indicates a willingness to overlook the regime’s egregious human rights abuses.
The international community’s apparent willingness to engage with the Taliban without demanding substantial concessions on human rights has sparked widespread criticism and anxiety among activists. In June, the Taliban participated in a rare United Nations-led conference of global envoys to Afghanistan in Doha, a meeting that explicitly discussed women’s rights but excluded any female participation. This blatant disregard for women’s representation highlights the international community’s failure to prioritize the voices of Afghan women in their interactions with the Taliban.
In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Mahbouba Seraj, a prominent Afghan women’s rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, shed light on the devastating realities faced by women in Afghanistan and the international community’s shortcomings. She highlighted the lack of unity among nations in addressing the crisis, noting that each country prioritizes its own interests over the plight of Afghan women.
Seraj argues that the international community’s approach of engaging with the Taliban without demanding accountability has emboldened the regime. She emphasizes that the Taliban feels empowered to implement its oppressive policies because of the fractured response from the world, particularly from Western nations. The lack of a unified stance, she believes, allows the Taliban to perceive its actions as acceptable.
Seraj is particularly critical of China’s engagement with the Taliban, citing Beijing’s focus on exploiting Afghanistan’s mineral wealth rather than promoting human rights. She points out that China’s interest lies in securing access to Afghanistan’s vast mineral resources, including copper, lithium, and rare minerals, which have remained untapped due to the country’s prolonged instability.
Seraj also highlights the legal complexities surrounding holding the Taliban accountable for its crimes against humanity. She points out the catch-22 situation: international courts cannot prosecute the Taliban unless its regime is formally recognized, but recognition itself would legitimize the regime and undermine efforts to hold it accountable.
The international community’s failure to create a united front against the Taliban’s brutal crackdown on women’s rights has grave consequences for the future of Afghan women. While the world engages in diplomatic maneuvers, Afghan women continue to face daily hardships, with their voices silenced and their freedoms curtailed. The question remains: will the international community prioritize its own interests over the fundamental rights of Afghan women, or will it finally act decisively to protect them?
