dpa
Islamabad
The Taliban government pushed back on Tuesday against criticism of its human rights record, arguing that Western definitions of rights do not apply to Afghanistan.
Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesman for the Taliban, made the comments in response to a recent US State Department report critical of Afghanistan’s deteriorating human rights situation.
Mujahid, speaking to state-controlled RTA Radio, emphasized the Taliban’s commitment to upholding Islamic Sharia law, which he argued defines and guarantees the rights of Afghan citizens based on their wishes. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has a Sharia and Islamic obligation to give the rights of its citizens,” Mujahid said. “When America or other Western countries talk about rights, they should not impose Western culture on other countries. What is defined as rights in America may not be the same in Afghanistan.”
His comments come amid ongoing tensions between the Taliban and the West concerning human rights, particularly regarding the rights of women and girls.
The US State Department in its recent annual report emphasized that it will not recognize the Taliban de facto government. The report highlights a “significant deterioration” in women’s rights over the past year, primarily due to edicts implemented by the Taliban government.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban has banned girls and women from studying beyond primary school. However, in some parts of the country, women and girls still attend religious schools, as well as midwifery and nursing schools. The report emphasizes that no effort has been made to reverse or soften the limitations.
