Restrictions on Afghan Women Disappoint the Muslim World: FM Bilawal

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday said the Afghan Taliban regime has deeply disappointed Muslims across the world by imposing restrictions on women’s rights to education and work.

While addressing at a UN-backed conference on ‘women in Islam’ the foreign minister said that extremists have distorted the images of a religion that encouraged women to actively participate in all walks of life.

The Taliban authorities had imposed restrictions on the rights of women and girls to education and work, which prompted worldwide condemnations. Over the past 18 months, UN agencies, human rights groups, and the international community has repeatedly called on Afghanistan’s de facto authorities to lift the bans and allow women to participate in the development of their country. However, no tangible changes are seen as of now.

“Pakistan and other Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries express their deep disappointment at the restrictions imposed on the human rights of women and girls, especially their right to education and work, in Afghanistan,” Minister Bilawal said.

Besides, representing Pakistan, at the conference, the foreign minister was also speaking for all member nations of the Organization of Islamic Cooper­ation as the chair of the OIC’s Council of Ministers at the UN.

While speaking at UN headquarters in New York on the status of women, FM Bhutto-Zardari said the extremists have distorted the image of Muslim women in the Western World. He further added that Muslim women in the OIC countries still face tremendous challenges, which need a collective approach to resolve the existing issues.

This comes as universities and educational institutions reopened throughout Afghanistan on March 6, but only male students are allowed to attend classes. The move has further frustrated the international community, including OIC countries.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Taliban authorities emphasize the restriction on female students’ education is a ‘temporary ban’, which will be resolved in a timely manner.

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