The UN special rapporteur for Afghan human rights, Richard Bennett stressed the importance of girls’ education in Afghanistan, saying that the Taliban have disagreements over the issue of girls education in Afghanistan.
Speaking to a panel in the Doha Forum, Bennett indicated the former Minister of Higher Education’s stance regarding female universities and said: “I remember having a meeting with the minister of higher education. This was a while back when women were still able to study at university and he had a kind of technical discussion with me. He said he didn’t contest whether or not women should study at university. It was an issue of how to do it in a segregated way and he said, ‘look, they had an internal discussion either they would have men for half the day or women for half the day so they don’t meet each other…’, he was removed a little bit after that a few months later,” Bennett said.
Meanwhile, the head of the Qatar-based Political Office, Suhail Shaheen, denied Bennett’s remarks, saying that the Islamic Emirate has ensured the rights of all citizens of Afghanistan.
“The Islamic Emirate has the support of the people. If it was not so, it would not be possible to stand against the 54 countries who were supporting the US in the invasion. Unfortunately, some people and sides are making untrue allegations either that it is the issue of education or other issues,” he said.
The international community has repeatedly voiced concerns over the violation of human rights in Afghanistan after the Islamic Emirate returned to power in August 2021.
Amnesty International called for “continued advocacy for addressing the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.”
The permanent representative of Afghanistan to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Nasir Ahmad Andisha, said that they are trying to be the “voice of Afghanistan” in the human rights council.
“We are trying to convey the voice of the people, men and women of Afghanistan to this council,” he said.
The situation of human rights, including restrictions imposed on girls and women by the current authorities, have drawn international attention.
On Sunday, the US special envoy for Afghan human rights and women, Rina Amiri, speaking to a panel at the Doha Forum called for investment in the female education sector in Afghanistan, in a bid to provide the way for a modern and “inclusive Afghanistan.”
