Islamic Emirate reacts to UN Rapporteur’s remarks

KABUL (TOLONews): Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, has described the report by UN Rapporteur Richard Bennett and representatives of some countries in the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting as an attempt to mislead public opinion ahead of the third Doha meeting.

Mujahid said that the Islamic Emirate appreciates the support of some countries in the UN Human Rights Council meeting.

Mujahid told TOLOnews: “The report by some members of the United Nations, especially the report by Richard Bennett, is an attempt to mislead minds ahead of the Doha meeting. Unfortunately, some individuals with grudges in the United Nations always try to present incorrect reports about Afghanistan.”

The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said in a statement that Afghanistan is currently facing increasing challenges economically and in the human rights situation, especially the rights of women and girls.

“The State of Qatar stressed that the recovery from long decades of conflict and deteriorating human rights conditions in Afghanistan now faces increasing challenges in the humanitarian, economic, and living fields, as well as critical human rights conditions, especially the rights of women and girls,” reads part of the statement of Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.

Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur for Afghanistan, criticized the human rights situation in Afghanistan at the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, saying that violence against women in Afghanistan is strong and widespread.

In his speech, he called on the Islamic Emirate authorities to address what he believes are discriminatory and restrictive policies that deprive women of their basic rights and to provide equal access to education for girls.

“These Taliban attacks on women’s rights are intensified, pervasive, and systematic, pursued through various policies and orders, all systematically cooperating with each other,” said Bennett.

Some analysts believe that the Islamic Emirate’s adherence to human rights issues outlined in the UN Charter can lead to resolving existing differences between the Islamic Emirate and the international community.

“The Islamic Emirate should think about the Afghan people’s demand which has been put forward by the international community as pretext and people’s demands should be addressed. The world must resolve the issues with us through dialogue, said Aman Hotaki, a political analyst.

“If the Islamic Emirate lived by the issue of human rights laid down in the UN charter, it would help the interim government gain the willingness of its people and the world community and help push its recognition demand,” said Shafiqullah Khaksar, another political analyst.

This is not the first time that the UN Human Rights special rapporteur has expressed concern over what he called violations of human rights, especially the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan; similar reports have been presented in the past as well.

On the other hand, the Islamic Emirate has always said that the rights of all citizens, especially the rights of women and girls, are ensured within the framework of Islamic laws, and other countries and institutions should not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.