Steps taken to provide women with a \u2019comfortable and prosperous life according to Sharia\u2019, says Hibatullah Akhundzada
\nKabul
\nAfghanistan\u2019s supreme leader said on Sunday the country\u2019s women were being saved from \u201ctraditional oppressions\u201d by the adoption of Islamic governance and their status as \u201cfree and dignified human beings\u201d restored.
\nIn a statement marking this week\u2019s Eidul Azha holiday, Hibatullah Akhundzada — who rarely appears in public and rules by decree from the Taliban\u2019s birthplace in Kandahar — said steps had been taken to provide women with a \u201ccomfortable and prosperous life according to Islamic Sharia\u201d.
\nThe United Nations expressed \u201cdeep concern\u201d last week that women were being deprived of their rights under Afghanistan\u2019s Taliban government and warned of systematic gender apartheid.
\nSince returning to power in August 2021, Taliban authorities have stopped girls and women from attending high school or university, banned them from parks, gyms and public baths, and ordered them to cover up when leaving home.
\nThey have also barred them from working for the UN or NGOs, while most female government employees have been dismissed from their jobs or are being paid to stay at home.
\nHowever, Akhundzada said \u201cnecessary steps have been taken for the betterment of women as half of the society\u201d.
\n\u201cAll institutions have been obliged to help women in securing marriage, inheritance and other rights,\u201d his statement read.
\nAkhundzada said a six-point decree issued in December 2021 guaranteed women their rights.
\nAmong other things, the decree outlawed forced marriages and enshrined the right to inheritance and divorce.
\n\u201cThe negative aspects of the past 20-year occupation related to women\u2019s hijab and misguidance will end soon,\u201d Akhundzada said.
\nA report to the UN\u2019s Human Rights Council last week by Richard Bennett, the special rapporteur for Afghanistan, said the plight of women and girls in the country \u201cwas among the worst in the world\u201d.
\n\u201cGrave, systematic and institutionalized discrimination against women and girls is at the heart of Taliban ideology and rule, which also gives rise to concerns that they may be responsible for gender apartheid,\u201d Bennett said.
\nUN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif added: \u201cOver the past 22 months, every aspect of women\u2019s and girls\u2019 lives has been restricted.\u201d
\n\u201cThey are discriminated against in every way.\u201d
\nDespite his rare public appearances, Akhundzada has regularly issued lengthy \u201cstate-of-the-nation\u201d-style statements ahead of important Muslim festivals and holidays.
\n\u201cAt the national level, the independence of Afghanistan has been restored once again,\u201d he said.
\nHe praised Afghanistan\u2019s economic resilience, efforts to eradicate poppy cultivation, and the improvement in national security.
\n\u201cIt is our shared responsibility to protect and serve our Islamic system,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cThe current system is the result of the sacrifices of thousands of mujahideen. Let\u2019s stand by each other, eliminate conspiracies, value security and prosperity and work together for its further enhancement.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Steps taken to provide women with a \u2019comfortable and prosperous life according to Sharia\u2019, says Hibatullah Akhundzada Kabul Afghanistan\u2019s supreme leader said on Sunday the country\u2019s women were being saved from \u201ctraditional oppressions\u201d by the adoption of Islamic governance and their status as \u201cfree and dignified human beings\u201d restored. In a statement marking this week\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":340037,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[12740],"class_list":{"0":"post-340006","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-hibatullah-akhundzada"},"yoast_head":"\n