Critical concerns not addressed at clerics’ gathering: Citizens

KABUL (TOLOnews): Some Afghan citizens said that the essential problems faced by the people of Afghanistan were not addressed in the resolutions issued by the major gathering of the Islamic clerics.
A three-day gathering of Islamic clerics was held from Thursday to Saturday, concluding with a resolution of 11 principles.
Residents claimed that the gathering mostly benefited the Islamic Emirate.
“We thought the gathering would discuss women’s rights, the economy and joblessness but it didn’t happen,” said Mujda, a resident of Kabul.
Analysts said the result of such gatherings cannot help in the recognition of Afghanistan.
“It is not possible for the world to recognize Afghanistan based on the results of this gathering and this gathering cannot bring changes to the current situation,” said Torek Farhadi, a political analyst.
“This gathering lacked real representatives of the people and was more like… those people who agreed with the ideology of the Taliban’s policy,” said Abdul Shokor Sabori, a researcher.
There are some citizens who praised the speeches made by the officials of the Islamic Emirate regarding the return of the former Afghan officials and politicians to the country.
“The speech of Mawlawi Hebatullah was good particularly when he called on the political opponents to return to Afghanistan,” said Ihsanullah Osmani, a resident of Kabul.
“We are thankful for the security when the Islamic Emirate came to power,” said Rafiullah, a resident of Kabul.
TOLOnews was unable to obtain comments from the Islamic Emirate regarding this issue.
But after the gathering ended, the deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, Bilal Karimi, told reporters that the gathering’s agenda was held because Islamic clerics requested it.
“This was not a gathering in which the Islamic Emirate will make the decision. But anytime there are issues for the Islamic Emirate to make a decision, it will be shared with the people,” he said.
The civil rights activists said that such gatherings cannot help to solve the current situation in Afghanistan.
“This gathering ended without any significant progress toward resolving the current problems of the people of Afghanistan, which includes a humanitarian crisis, an economic crisis, and the lack of girls’ access to school,” said Najia Anwari, a civil rights activist.
Neither women nor the media were represented, and influential Afghan politicians were not invited to the gathering of the Islamic clerics.