The Taliban Have Essentially Eliminated Women From Public Life

In August 2021, after US forces had hastily departed Afghanistan, the leaders of the Taliban held their first press conference since completing the conquest of the country. For the first time in years, it seemed, the world’s attention was focused on the war-torn nation. In a break with the past, the Taliban spokesman vowed to honor women’s rights “within our framework of Sharia [law].” A Taliban official agreed to be interviewed by a female TV journalist. This apparently conciliatory attitude came as a surprise to many, given the lack of guarantees for women’s rights in the fine print of the… Read Full Article