Taliban Claims Women Are Safe As Rights Groups Condemn Gender Apartheid In Afghanistan
The Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, has claimed that Afghan women live in complete physical and psychological security.
The Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, has claimed that Afghan women live in complete physical and psychological security.
In a statement for International Women’s Day, Mujahid said the Taliban have eliminated violence against women and ensured that their rights are protected.
Mujahid added that women’s rights in an Islamic and Afghan society differ from those in the West. He stated that these differences must be considered when evaluating women’s status under Taliban rule. He insisted that women’s fundamental rights are secured within the framework of Islamic law and Afghan traditions.
He further claimed that protecting women’s dignity, honour, and legal rights is a priority for the Taliban. Mujahid added that women in Afghanistan live in complete security and that the Taliban’s judicial and administrative bodies have been instructed to uphold their rights. The statement also mentioned that authorities are responsible for safeguarding women’s rights in marriage, inheritance, and dowries.
Human rights activists strongly reject these claims. Rights groups argue that gender apartheid exists in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, as women are systematically deprived of their fundamental rights. They point to the ban on girls’ education, restrictions on women’s employment, limitations on movement without a male guardian, and their exclusion from government roles as clear evidence of institutionalised gender segregation.
The United Nations and women’s rights organisations have warned that these policies reduce women to second-class citizens. The Taliban, however, dismiss these criticisms, insisting that their laws and policies align with Islamic principles and Afghan culture and should not be compared with Western standards.
Contrary to Mujahid’s statement, research shows that the psychological well-being of Afghan women has significantly deteriorated in recent years. Widespread restrictions on education, employment, and social freedoms, combined with economic and cultural pressures, have led to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness.
Reports indicate that many women, especially those who were the primary earners in their families, are experiencing severe stress after losing their jobs. Young girls, unable to pursue education or social activities, face an uncertain future, leading to feelings of frustration and demotivation.
Despite these hardships, many Afghan women continue to resist and search for ways to maintain hope and motivation amid the restrictions imposed on them.
