- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sat, 11 Oct 2025 12:13 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Taliban Atrocities Against Women: A press conference addressed by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi saw participation restricted to a handful of reporters, while women journalists were conspicuous by their absence— an action perceived as reflecting the Taliban's oppressive gender policies.
Although it has gained massive outrage in New Delhi, where Opposition leaders are slamming the Indian government for not taking a stand against the Taliban’s bizarre move, it is learnt that the decision on inviting journalists to the media interaction was taken by Taliban officials accompanying the foreign minister.
How Taliban downplayed women atrocities in Afghanistan
The Taliban foreign minister, although, did not address the issue directly during the presser in New Delhi, Muttaqi downplayed the atrocities against women in Afghanistan. Muttaqi side-stepped a direct question on the plight of women in Afghanistan but said every country has its own customs, laws, and principles, and there should be respect for them. "Every country has its own customs, laws, and principles, and works according to those. It is not correct that people are not given their rights. If people were not happy with the system and the laws, why has peace returned?" he said.
ALSO READ: Afghanistan Internet Ban: Taliban Restricts Wi-Fi Access Across Country; What's Behind Bizarre Move
Notably, this wasn’t the first time the Taliban faced such criticism. Since seizing power in 2021, Afghanistan's Taliban administration has rolled back hard-fought rights won by Afghan women and girls during two decades of rule by American-backed governments.
How Taliban's brutal regime silenced Afghan women for 4 years now:
- Akhundzada ratified morality laws - widely criticised by rights groups as draconian - that included requiring women to cover their faces and also barring them from travelling without a male guardian.
- Taliban authorities have said Afghan women will no longer be allowed into public and amusement parks.
- Gyms and fitness centres for women have been banned across the country.
- The Taliban ordered the closing down of hundreds of beauty salons meant for women.
- Girls are allowed to go to school until the age of 12, or grade 6. Education after this has been disallowed, including for women who were already studying in universities.
- Women have been banned from most public sector jobs and employment with NGOs and are only allowed to work in certain specific situations, such as healthcare.
- The Taliban say they respect women's rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and local customs and that they are internal matters that should be addressed locally.
- Their policies have been widely criticized internationally, however, including by Muslim-majority countries. Western diplomats have said any steps towards official recognition of the Taliban are blocked until their administration changes course on women's rights.
- The education bar on women, backed by Akhundzada and his conservative aides, is opposed by some senior Taliban leaders, who support moves to reintegrate Afghanistan into the global community.
(With inputs from agencies)