Nations Engaged With Kabul Should Urge Women’s Rights: US State Dept

A US State Department spokesperson said that Washington calls on any country engaged with Kabul to urge improvement on women’s and girls’ rights.

Addressing a press briefing, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Washington wants to see the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan improved.

“So we very much want to see the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan improved, and we would urge any country that engages with the Taliban to urge improvement on that front,” he said.

Rabia, who is fourteen years old and was in the eighth grade more than two years ago, said that she began studying calligraphy and painting when the schools were closed to girls.

“When I couldn’t go to school, I did not become disappointed, because when Allah closes one door for us, he opens another door and I turn to calligraphy and painting,” she told TOLOnews.

“I ask the Islamic Emirate to immediately reopen schools for girls so that we have a bright future,” Sana, another student, told TOLOnews.

However, the Islamic Emirate said that the rights of all women and girls in the country are guaranteed, adding that the world should consider the cultural differences of the country and define the rights of women and girls.

“It is better that there is interaction. Afghanistan is a safe country and it is an Islamic country which gives rights to its citizens and it is necessary that it should grant rights to its citizens and it is the commitment of the government. However, the rights should be defined — what rights should be ensured. And they should also consider opinion and cultural differences,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman.

Earlier, in a meeting with a number of female education activists, former president Hamid Karzai said that the reopening of girls’ schools and universities was vital to the development of Afghanistan.