Global backlash ensues as the Taliban enforces a ban on women working in NGOs, highlighting the increasing erosion of women’s rights in Afghanistan.
At a Glance
- The Taliban forbids female employment in NGOs due to “improper” dress code adherence.
- This is one of many restrictions imposed on Afghan women’s rights and freedoms.
- Protests erupted following a ban on female students attending universities.
- International alarm grows with potential geopolitical shifts involving the Taliban and Iran.
Ban on Women in NGOs
The Taliban government ordered foreign and domestic NGOs in Afghanistan to cease employing women, citing improper adherence to the Islamic headscarf dress code. The Economy Minister, Qari Din Mohammed Hanif, stated non-compliant NGOs risk losing their licenses. It remains ambiguous if the decree targets all women or solely Afghan nationals. This move triggers significant backlash and raises concerns about humanitarian aid disruption, as NGOs play crucial roles in a country where over half the population lives in poverty.
Maliha Niazai, an NGO worker, described the ban as heartbreaking, worrying about her family’s financial support. Similar sentiments echoed from Jalalabad, where an NGO worker called it the worst moment of her life. Meanwhile, the Taliban’s increasing restrictions include barring women from post-primary schooling, employment sectors, and public spaces. Reports of Taliban forces using water cannons to disperse university ban protesters further illustrate tensions.
The Taliban say they will close all national and foreign non-governmental groups in Afghanistan employing women.https://t.co/AxQ4RzkqsT
— euronews (@euronews) December 31, 2024
International Response and Humanitarian Impact
The international community voices strong opposition to the Taliban’s restrictive measures. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the NGO ban, highlighting its threat to humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.
Türk noted, “The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remains dire, with more than half the population living in poverty. NGOs play a vital role in providing critical life-saving assistance – to Afghan women, men, girls and boys – and this measure will directly impact the ability of the population to receive humanitarian aid.”
The ban will severely hinder aid delivery in a country already struggling with extreme poverty.
The barriers imposed on Afghan women since August 2021 have incited claims of “gender apartheid.” Despite the Taliban’s assurances that Islamic law upholds Afghan rights, their actions continually refute these assertions. Parallel to the NGO ban, women are discouraged from engaging in public cultural expressions, such as singing or poetry. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also announced building restrictions, aiming to conceal women from visible positions to prevent “obscene acts.”
Geopolitical Concerns
Alarmingly, geopolitical concerns emerge as the Taliban cultivates ties with Iran. Traditionally non-aligned, Iran’s recent cooperation with the Taliban intensifies regional anxieties. Speculation arises regarding potential military deployments involving Israel, with Iran purportedly linking the Taliban with its allies like Hezbollah and Hamas. This alliance hints at potential shifts in Middle Eastern power dynamics, necessitating global vigilance and diplomatic engagement.
“No country can progress – politically, economically or socially – while excluding half of its population from public life,” Türk said.
The erosion of women’s rights and freedoms in Afghanistan, set against the backdrop of international concern and potential geopolitical shifts, demands serious attention and action from the global community.
