Afghanistan Peace CampaignSaif-ul-Islam Khyber, the ministry’s spokesperson, said that Afghanistan is an Islamic country, and Islamic laws have defined fair rights for women, children, and all segments of society.
Khyber said: “Criticism of the laws, activities, and strategies of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice under the name of women’s human rights reflects the double standards of international norms, using human rights slogans as a tool for political pressure.”
A day earlier, female foreign ministers from 17 countries, including Canada, Australia, Germany, and representatives of the European Union, expressed concerns in a joint statement regarding the restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan.
They stressed that no government can achieve sustainable peace, prosperity, and a viable future without the participation of women and urged the Islamic Emirate to lift the restrictions imposed on Afghan women.
The joint statement read: “Today, women foreign ministers from around the world convened to discuss and reaffirm their deep concerns about the ongoing and systematic violations and abuses of human rights in Afghanistan by the Taliban de facto authorities, particularly those affecting women and girls.”
“Both women and men play significant roles in society. Without women’s participation, we cannot achieve goals such as the country’s progress and development,” said Faryal Saidzada, a women’s rights activist.
The ministers highlighted that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan depends on the participation of all Afghans, including women, in the country’s future and called on all countries to ensure the full and meaningful participation of women in discussions about Afghanistan.
The statement added: “We know that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is only attainable if all Afghans, including women and girls, can fully participate in and contribute to the country’s future. This includes discussions and decisions happening within the country, but also on the international stage.”
“We cannot move forward with only one segment of society; people have different mindsets and demands. We must have women’s representatives in organizations and international conferences,” said Fatima Fayzi, a women’s rights activist.
According to the statement, while Afghanistan faces high maternal and child mortality rates, the Islamic Emirate has decided to ban girls from attending health centers starting from December 2024.