Kabul: The Taliban were known for the oppressive measures they implemented against women when they ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001. Women were then not allowed to step out of home without a male escort. They were also not permitted to work.
People were apprehensive of the same conditions being implemented when they returned to power a little over a month back. However, this time around, the Taliban had promised that they wouldn’t probably take the same hardline stance that they did during their earlier regime.
This was amply clarified by the Taliban regime Tuesday when they said that Afghan girls will be permitted to return to school ‘as soon as possible’.
Meanwhile, weeks after the militants captured Kabul in an offensive that stunned the world, the hardliners’ spokesman unveiled the remaining members of Afghanistan’s new all-male cabinet. Strangely women were missing from it, even though a section of the Taliban leaders had promised that the fairer sex will find a place.
The Islamists have gradually eroded the freedom of the Afghans one month after in power and promising a milder version of their previous administration.
The education ministry issued a directive over the weekend ordering male instructors and students back to secondary school, but it made no mention of the Afghanistan’s female educators or students.
“We are finalising arrangements… it will happen as soon as feasible,” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated during a press conference in Kabul about the return of girls to school. He went on to say that “a safe learning environment” had to be built first.
The Taliban proclaimed their new leadership in September, which was made up entirely of loyalists.
Mujahid made no mention of the now-defunct Women’s Affairs ministry while announcing the final lineup Tuesday. There were no female ministers mentioned.
