KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — On Saturday, Taliban leaders and officials convened at Afghanistan's traditional Loya Jirga assembly hall to commemorate the fifth anniversary of their return to power. They claimed to have restored stability and ended decades of conflict in the country.
In stark contrast to their celebratory assertions, a senior United Nations official issued a warning about a severe human rights crisis in Afghanistan, particularly affecting girls over the age of 12, who are currently barred from attending school.
The Taliban seized control of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops, which ended a two-decade military presence. The chaotic evacuation from Kabul airport saw thousands desperately trying to escape the country.
Shortly after regaining power, the Taliban imposed a ban on girls' education beyond the sixth grade, later extending this prohibition to higher education for women. This move contradicted their pre-takeover promises that women would have access to education, employment, and participation in public life.
Restrictions on women have since intensified, with bans on entering public spaces such as gyms and parks, participating in sports, and traveling to distant locations without a male guardian.
During the Loya Jirga event, officials and foreign representatives expressed their views on the celebration of Afghanistan's “liberation” from American forces. Hamdullah Fitrat, the Taliban government’s deputy spokesman, prayed for protection from future occupation and emphasized a desire for peace under a Sharia-based government. Abdul Salam Hanafi, the deputy prime minister responsible for administrative matters, asserted that the Taliban's rule had put an end to a tumultuous era marked by external interventions and internal conflicts.
Despite such claims, there was a notable absence of women at the ceremony, highlighting ongoing gender exclusion under the current regime. The Taliban government remains largely isolated on the international stage, with only Russia officially recognizing it. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi urged other nations to engage with the Taliban, arguing that those who have done so have benefitted.
Celebrations unfolded across Kabul, with citizens waving Taliban flags and chanting supportive slogans. However, the event took place under heavy security, featuring numerous checkpoints leading to the Loya Jirga hall.
Richard Bennett, the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, delivered a video message highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation. He remarked that while warfare may have ceased, the reality of peace remains questionable, with a notable decline in the rights of women and girls. He classified the systemic discrimination against women as a crime against humanity based on gender persecution.
Bennett warned against the normalization of the Taliban's policies, stating that it would legitimize ongoing discrimination. He noted that the human rights crisis extends beyond gender-based issues and includes reports of arbitrary arrests, torture, extrajudicial killings, and persecution of minorities.
In an interview, Molvi Hayatullah Mahajar Farahi, deputy minister of broadcasting at the Ministry of Information and Culture, acknowledged the administration's challenges yet claimed it had made strides in security and infrastructure, though he did not directly address girls' education. The U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that approximately 2.4 million girls have been excluded from secondary education, while the World Food Program reports alarming levels of child malnutrition in a third of Afghanistan's provinces.
The situation for women and girls continues to be dire, with U.N. Women reporting that they face the harshest restrictions globally. The ongoing bans threaten Afghanistan's future by jeopardizing the development of essential professionals, such as teachers, doctors, and midwives, which are crucial to the nation's social and economic fabric.
