Afghanistan Peace Campaign
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the recent statements attributed to the Taliban leadership, expressing their decision to resume the stoning and physical punishment of Afghan women. The ministry has called on the Taliban to revoke their policy of oppression and marginalization of women in Afghanistan.
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry stated that the Taliban’s “horrific” decision to stone women is part of a pattern of violations of women’s fundamental rights and freedoms by this group.
France has emphasized that the United Nations Security Council, in cooperation with the country, considers respect for the rights of Afghan women as a precondition for any dialogue with the Taliban.
The Taliban leader, in recent statements attributed to him, talks about the implementation of “Islamic punishments in Afghanistan.”
Hibatullah Akhundzada stated, “Tomorrow, we will stone women publicly and whip them. All of this goes against your democracy.”
The Taliban leader added that the Taliban’s work in gaining control of Kabul is not over, but rather just beginning.
These statements have been met with strong reactions from citizens and human rights activists.
During its nearly three years of governance, the Taliban has introduced and enforced extensive policies that restrict women in various aspects of life, work, education, and participation in society.
Critics of the Taliban and a wide array of human rights experts consider the Taliban’s policies towards women as a form of “gender apartheid.”
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the group has imposed several decrees that severely restrict women’s rights and seek to erase their presence from public life.
These decrees include limitations on women’s education, employment, and participation in society, effectively marginalizing them and relegating them to the confines of their homes.
Additionally, the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law has resulted in the imposition of harsh punishments, including public stoning and lashings, for perceived violations of their edicts, further exacerbating the plight of Afghan women under their rule.