Tuesday, September 21, 2021
transitional government complete
Taliban wants to reopen girls’ schools
Last week the Taliban ordered students and teachers to return to class. Girls should follow up “as soon as possible,” he says. In addition, Islamists are completing their interim government with the appointment of 17 more people.
Nearly five weeks after taking power in Afghanistan, the Taliban presented missing members of its transitional government – but women are still not among them. Taliban spokesman Sabiullah Mujahid told a news conference in Kabul that a total of 17 others had been appointed to the cabinet by decree. A deputation in the health ministry belongs to the Hazara minority. In the selection, special attention was paid to professional suitability.
Militant Islamists had introduced about 30 members of the government two weeks ago, not including a single woman or any person from any other political group. Western states had called for a so-called inclusive government that does not consist solely of the Taliban. The entire European Union has made this a condition for further commitments, for example for the payment of development aid.
The Mujahid called for recognition of the Taliban government. It is the duty of the international community and the countries of the region to establish diplomatic relations with the new Afghan leadership. He expressed hope that this would happen in the near future.
Simultaneously, the Mujahid announced the reopening of girls’ schools. “It will be done at the earliest,” he said. Last week the Taliban ordered male teachers and students to return to secondary schools. Teachers and students were not mentioned. In addition, Islamists replaced the Afghan government’s previous women’s ministry with a “ministry of virtues”. Such an agency was responsible for the flogging of women during the first Taliban regime in the late 1990s.
The Taliban regime between 1996 and 2001 was particularly characterized by oppression of women. They had to wear burqa in public, were not allowed to work and girls were not allowed to go to school. Ever since Islamists came back to power, many women fear they will re-enact similar rules for them.
