New Year to be a Decisive Year for Women and Girls in Iran, Afghanistan: US Envoy
Rina Amiri, United States Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights expressed her optimism that women and girls in Afghanistan and Iran would triumph in the year ahead.
Rina Amiri on Tuesday posted a piece of artwork probably painted by Afghan school girls on Twitter, and congratulated the new year “Nowruz” to all, particularly to the resilient women and girls of Afghanistan and Iran who are fighting for their rights and freedom under repressive regimes, which have deprived them of their fundamental rights.
The people of Afghanistan celebrated the arrival of the new year “Nowruz 1402” and the academic year as the Taliban have banned girls’ schools for over the past 547 days throughout Afghanistan.
The decision prompted worldwide condemnations from the international community, the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the rights group as well as the people of Afghanistan. However, no tangible progress is seen from the ruling regime in this regard.
On the contrary, the Taliban authorities describe it as a temporary ban, which will be resolved in the future.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have described the celebration of the New Persian Year as an un-Islamic and alien culture, and have prevented people from celebrating this ancient festival. It is also reported that Taliban officials have forced people not to appear in recreational places in certain parts of Afghanistan on the occasion of the new year.
Some exiled Afghan politicians have described the move as a clear violation and an open attack against the culture and values of the people of Afghanistan.
Nowruz celebration is one of the ancient rituals of the people of Afghanistan, being celebrated in different ways, similar to other countries in the so-called “Nowruz region”.
The United Nations officially recognized the “International Day of Nowruz” with the adoption of Resolution 64/253 by the United Nations General Assembly in February 2010.
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