(Kabul) The Taliban government has “the right to arrest and imprison opponents”, including women who regularly demonstrate “without authorization”, its main spokesperson said on Saturday, reacting to the recent disappearance of two feminist activists in which the regime denies being involved.
Posted at 11:08 a.m.
Since coming to power in mid-August following the withdrawal of American troops, the Taliban authorities have dispersed opposition demonstrations. Journalists have been beaten up and some critics of the regime arrested.
This week, two women were abducted days after participating in a protest in Kabul, according to several feminist activists.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Saturday called on the Taliban to “provide information” regarding the fate of these two activists, Tamana Zaryabi Paryani and Parwana Ibrahimkhel.
In an interview with AFP, government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied any arrest.
However, the government has “the right to arrest and imprison opponents or those who violate the law”, he said, adding that “no one should create disturbances, as this disturbs public order and the peace “.
Feminist activists regularly organize small rallies in the capital to demand respect for women’s rights.
They demonstrate “without authorization”, argued Mr. Mujahid. “If this happened in another country, people like them would be arrested.”
In our country too, they will be imprisoned and faced with their responsibilities. We do not allow illegal activities.
Zabihullah Mujahid
Discussions in Norway
Since the end of international aid, which accounted for around 80% of its budget, and the freezing by the United States of $9.5 billion in assets of the Central Bank of Afghanistan, Afghanistan has been bogged down in a deep humanitarian crisis.
Famine now threatens 23 million Afghans, or 55% of the population, according to the UN, which is asking donor countries for 4.4 billion dollars to cope.
It is in this context that discussions must open on Sunday in Norway between the new masters of Afghanistan and Western diplomats, who set up respect for women’s rights as a prerequisite for any official recognition of the government.
A Taliban delegation is due to meet Norwegian authorities and representatives of other countries, including the United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the European Union.
“The Islamic Emirate (name given by the Taliban to their regime, editor’s note) has taken measures to meet the demands of the Western world and we hope to strengthen our diplomatic relations with all countries, including European countries and the West in general,” Mr. Mujahid said.
Since their return to power, the Taliban claim to have modernized compared to their last reign (1996-2001), during which they largely trampled on human rights.
However, women remain largely excluded from public jobs and public schools remain closed for girls over the age of 12.
Women wishing to travel must also be accompanied by a male member of their immediate family and posters reminding them that they “must” wear a veil, accompanied by photos of burkas, have been posted in Kabul.
“Novice” fighters
On Friday, Taliban religious police threatened to shoot women working for international NGOs in a northwestern province of Afghanistan if they did not wear the burqa, according to two employees of these organizations.
Mr. Mujahid blamed these attempts at intimidation on the inexperience of Taliban fighters, now in charge of law and order after 20 years of guerrilla warfare.
The government forces are “very new to […] and not professional,” he argued. “They have not been trained.”
According to Mujahid, the new regime is in favor of women’s rights, which it reconciles with its strict interpretation of Sharia, Islamic law.
“Even without the demands (from the international community), we believe it is necessary for women to work and be educated,” he insisted.
However, no date has been set for a possible return to class for young girls in the provinces where they are excluded from public schools.
It will take place “during the coming year”, but “we cannot set a deadline”, explained the spokesman, citing the economic crisis and the inexperience of the new authorities.