Taliban pledge international engagement as UN condemns moral law as ‘gender apartheid’

KABUL:

A Taliban government spokesman said Afghan authorities had pledged to engage with the international community after a new morality law sparked tense exchanges over women’s rights.

The United Nations and European Union have warned that the law — which requires women to be fully covered and not raise their voices in public — could hurt prospects for engagement with foreign nations and international organizations.

Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat was responding to comments by a spokesman for the UN secretary-general assuring continued engagement with Taliban authorities after Afghanistan’s ethics ministry said it would no longer cooperate with the UN mission in the country, UNAMA. for the criticism of the law. .

Fitrat said authorities were “committed to positive interactions with all countries and organizations in accordance with Islamic law,” in a voice message to reporters on Saturday.

“Interaction is the only way to achieve solutions to problems and to progress and expand relations,” he said, urging nations and organizations to work positively with Taliban authorities.

Since taking power in 2021, no state has recognized the Taliban government, but it has made diplomatic forays recently, including participating in UN talks on Afghanistan in Qatar.

On Friday, a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said: “We will continue to work with all stakeholders in Afghanistan, including the Taliban.”

“We have always done it following our mandate and I would say impartially and in good faith, always respecting UN rules, promoting the messages of human rights and equality,” said Stephane Dujarric.

“We will urge the de facto authorities to actually open more avenues for diplomatic engagement,” he added.

Earlier on Friday, the ethics ministry said it would no longer cooperate with UNAMA over its criticisms of the “Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Violence Law,” which was ratified last week.

The law, which includes rules for many aspects of Afghan life according to the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, has sparked concern among Afghans, various countries, human rights defenders, UN agencies and the EU.

It forbids women from raising their voices in public and requires them to cover their entire bodies and faces if they have to leave the house “out of necessity”.

Men’s behavior and dress are also strictly regulated by law, which gives the police moral authority to warn and detain people for non-compliance.

UNAMA chief Roza Otunbayeva said last week that the law offered “a painful vision of Afghanistan’s future,” adding that it could delay cooperation efforts, a warning echoed by the EU.

The Taliban government has consistently rejected international criticism of its policies, including restrictions on women that the UN has labeled “gender apartheid”.

Chief government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the law is “firmly rooted in Islamic teachings” that must be respected and understood, adding that rejecting the law shows “arrogance.”