Taliban rejects gender discrimination claims amid international scrutiny

On Thursday, the Taliban dismissed accusations of gender discrimination and human rights violations, claiming such allegations are absurd. This response comes as Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands announced plans to initiate legal proceedings against the Taliban for breaching a U.N. convention on women's rights, which Afghanistan is obligated to uphold. The announcement was made during the U.N. General Assembly in New York, where over 20 countries expressed support for this legal action. Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed strict restrictions on women and girls, including barring them from education beyond sixth grade and limiting their access to public spaces and employment. In August, new laws were introduced that mandated women cover their faces and restricted their ability to speak in public. These measures have drawn widespread condemnation from the international community, which views them as gross violations of human rights. The Taliban's deputy spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, claimed that human rights are protected in Afghanistan and accused critics of spreading propaganda. He argued that the Taliban's policies align with their interpretation of Islamic law, rejecting all criticism as foreign interference. The Taliban's stance reflects a broader refusal to acknowledge the systemic discrimination faced by women and girls in Afghanistan. Human Rights Watch researcher Fereshta Abbasi emphasized the importance of international support for the legal actions against the Taliban, suggesting that this could pave the way for justice regarding the human rights abuses committed against Afghan women and girls. The ongoing situation remains a significant barrier to the normalization of relations between Afghanistan and the international community.