Categories: World

Defiant Taliban replace Women’s Ministry with Ministry to Promote Virtue & Prevent Vice

<p>
In brazen move to crush women’s rights, the Taliban regime on Friday replaced signs for the country's Ministry for Women in Kabul with those for "Ministries of Prayer and Guidance and the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" on Friday which is expected to give a bigger role the Islamist militants moral police.</p>
<p>
A sign for the building was covered by a replacement in a mixture of Dari and Arabic, reading "Ministries of Prayer and Guidance and the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" on Friday, photographs showed.</p>
<p>
Female employees said they had been trying to come to work for several weeks but were told to go back home, many videos filmed outside the building show.</p>
<p>
The gates of the building were finally locked on Thursday, a Reuters report cited one of the women as saying.</p>
<p>
<strong>Also read:</strong>  <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/world-news/taliban-omits-ministry-for-women-un-body-says-it-s-a-violation-of-international-treaty-113291.html">Taliban omits Ministry for Women, UN body says it’s a violation of international treaty</a></p>
<p>
"I am the only breadwinner in my family," said a second woman, who also said she worked in the department. "When there is no ministry, what should an Afghan woman do?"</p>
<p>
During the earlier Taliban rule from 1996 to 2001, its Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice was used to enforce the strict Islamic Sharia law that included a stringent dress code with women having to wear a burqa. Public executions and floggings and amputation of limbs were among the other punishments meted out in accordance with the Islamic law.</p>
<p>
Also girls were not allowed to attend school and women were not permitted to work. They were also not allowed to step out of their homes unless they were accompanied by a male family member.</p>
<p>
Although this time around some Taliban spokespersons have been saying that women will be allowed to pursue higher studies and the law would be more accommodative. However, these are turning out to be a mere façade as the Taliban desperately seeks world aid in a collapsing economy. Their actions on the ground deny women basic human rights.</p>
<p>
UN Women, the United Nations entity for gender equality, had earlier criticised the Taliban’s decision to drop the Ministry for Women from among the institutions of government in Afghanistan. </p>
<p>
Pramila Patten, the acting head of UN Women, had said in a statement : “Such ministries are found around the world and reflect governments’ commitment to ensure respect for women’s human rights. To no longer have such a ministry in Afghanistan is a further step backwards.”</p>
<p>
She had called on the “Taliban leadership to fully comply with its legally binding obligations under international treaties to which Afghanistan is party as well as with relevant constitutional provisions.”</p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

‘Political space given to extremist forces’: EAM Jaishankar on attacks on Hindu temples in Canada

External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar expressed concerns about the recent attacks on the Hindu temples…

16 mins ago

Coast Guard Chief S Paramesh calls on Navy Chief Admiral, deliberates on ICG’s operational readiness

Indian Coast Guard Chief Director General S Paramesh has called on Indian Navy Chief Admiral…

29 mins ago

North Korea launches short-range ballistic missiles ahead of US elections

Just a few hours ahead of the presidential polls in the United States, North Korea…

38 mins ago

Brampton: Thousands take out solidarity rally against attacks on Hindu temples in Canada

Over a thousand Canadian Hindus gathered outside the Hindu Sabha Mandir in Brampton, Canada on…

2 hours ago

Jaishankar meets Australian counterpart Penny Wong for Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue in Canberra

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was welcomed by Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, at the…

2 hours ago

Israel targets Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in Syria

Israel on Monday targeted Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters in Syria. Sharing a post on X, the…

2 hours ago