Ban on female employees major blow to Afghanistan

KABUL (TOLOnews): Jan Egeland, secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, in an interview with TOLOnews said that he believes that banning women from working in non-governmental organizations would be a significant blow to Afghanistan.
“Banning of female staff is a big blow, and therefore we have suspended all our work, we cannot work with males only. We have been in Afghanistan now for twenty years,” he said.
According to Egeland, the council abides by all Islamic values and principles and asks that the Islamic Emirate reconsider its decision to suspend women’s employment.
Egeland added that the council adheres to all Islamic principles and values and they should be allowed to operate in Afghanistan.
“We cannot do good work with males only, it is impossible, exactly this decision makes it impossible for us to work in Afghanistan,” Egeland further noted.
Meanwhile, analysts said the decision of the current government will have irreparable consequences for the country.
“The result of such a decision will naturally have irreparable consequences for Afghanistan,” Farah Mustafawi, a women’s rights activist said.
“At the international level, the issue can still have a serious impact on the ties of the new rulers of Afghanistan with the world and makes the process of their recognition more complex,” said Hekmatullah Mirzada, a university lecturer.
The Islamic Emirate’s decision has provoked reactions from the United Nations, the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and many countries.