Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the acting minister of vice and virtue said on Tuesday that the interim regime of Afghanistan is fully committed to respecting women’s rights “defined by Islam”, not that of the world.
In a gathering in Parwan province on Monday, Mr. Hanafi reiterated that abiding by Islamic law has been one of the key objectives of their movement. They have struggled for decades to succeed in implementing the Sharia laws, not their personal theories in the country.
“Not all religious scholars have tried to occupy government positions – they work to implement the Sharia laws and guide the society to the right path,” he said.
This comes as girls’ schools above grade six have been closed since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, and women have been banned from participating in public places such as parks, recreational places and more.
“In no other country have women and girls so rapidly disappeared from all spheres of public life,” UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett said. “Despite this, women and girls remain at the forefront of efforts to maintain human rights and continue to call for accountability.”
The ministry of vice and virtue of the ruling regime has not yet commented on girls’ education and their right to learn. The emphasis on reopening girls’ schools largely depends on the creation of a decent cultural and religious environment, Mr. Hanafi said.
