Taliban holds press conference on sharia law, women's roles amid Afghanistan takeover
Category: News & Politics
Via: john-russell • 3 years ago • 61 commentsBy: Courtney Subramanian and Tom Vanden Brook (MSN)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
WASHINGTON - U.S. military evacuation flights resumed from Afghanistan Tuesday as the Taliban held their first press conference since taking power by declaring "amnesty" for government officials and vowing to uphold women's rights under Islamic law.
The statements are a dramatic departure from when the Taliban fundamentalist group last held power before the U.S.-led invasion in 2001. Women virtually had no rights under Taliban's oppressive rule. Most women were forced to quit their jobs and stay at home and lost access to education and health care, enduring high rates of both illiteracy and maternal mortality.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, said they were working to form a government and vowed that "nobody will be harmed."
Their aim, he said, is to make sure "Afghanistan is no longer a battlefield of conflict."
"We have pardoned all those who have fought against us. Animosities have come to an end," he said. "We do not want to have any problems with the international community."
However, interpreters, drivers and others who helped U.S. and NATO forces fear the Taliban will "slaughter" them, viewing them as traitors.
Mujahid also said the militant group is "committed to the rights of women under the system of sharia (Islamic) law," but emphasized they could work and study "within our frameworks."
"They are going to be working shoulder to shoulder with us. We would like to assure the international community that there will be no discrimination," he said.
However, the Taliban regime was known for particularly violent enforcement of draconian codes. For instance, women seen in public without a male relative or wearing a burqa could be raped, abducted and forced into marriage. Women who were rape could also be executed.
© Santiago Lyon/AP Three Afghan women in burqas in 1996 after the Taliban religious army took over Kabul.
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"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan doesn't want the women to be the victims anymore," said Enamullah Samangani, a member of the Taliban's cultural commission.
Mujahid also said private media could continue be to independent but said journalists "should not work against national values."
Evacuation flights from Kabul underway
Many Afghans remain so fearful of Taliban rule that they rushed departing planes. Chaos unfolded just a day earlier at Hamid Karzai International Airport, where thousands desperate to flee the country forced the U.S. and other countries to halt the evacuation of diplomats and Afghan civilians who assisted American troops.
The airport is back open and as many as 800 people have been evacuated overnight, including 165 U.S. citizens, said Army Gen. William Taylor, an official on the Joint staff.
U.S. military commanders in Kabul are communicating with Taliban officials outside the international airport to allow for the safe evacuation of U.S. citizens and Afghans, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Tuesday.
Kirby declined to characterize the discussions but said "the results are speaking for themselves."
Evacuation flights could carry as many as 9,000 people out of Afghanistan per day, Taylor said. The airport has been secured by American Marines and soldiers, and more than 4,000 troops will be on the ground by the end of Tuesday, he added.
Biden's remarks draw bipartisan criticism; $500M pledged for refugees
The first comments about how the militant group said it plans to govern come as President Joe Biden defended his decision to withdraw U.S. troops despite the rapid collapse of the Afghan government.
The president returned to Camp David, the Maryland presidential retreat, and stayed largely out of view as he drew bipartisan criticism for the administration's handling of the evacuations.
Following his remarks, the White House announced Biden allocated $500 million from the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund to assist refugees fleeing Afghanistan.
The additional funds will be used to meet "unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs of refugees, victims of conflict, and other persons at risk as a result of the situation in Afghanistan, including applicants for Special Immigrant Visas," according to the White House.
Kirby told ABC's "Good Morning America" the U.S. vowed to meet "our moral and sacred obligations" to allied Afghans.
"We plan on being on the ground there in Afghanistan for the next couple of weeks," Kirby said during an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America." "It's not just about moving out Americans. It is very much about meeting our moral and sacred obligations to those Afghans who helped us over the last 20 years, getting as many of them out as we can."
White House press secretary Jen Psaki and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan are due to brief reporters later Tuesday.
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I would like to see an international and highly public effort to protect human rights in Afghanistan. Lets hope the best and the brightest can devise a way to do this.
Not likely to happen while the Taliban are in control. We've tried to do that for 20 years. At this point, if the Afghan people are not willing to rise up against the Taliban themselves, then it's time to wash our hands to this whole mess.
I'm sure the UN is on it already.
I mean, aren't countries like China, Russia, Venazuela, and Cuba all good examples of human rights safekeepers?
I see one individual talked about being "committed to the rights of women under the system of Sharia (Islamic) law..."
Strikes me as a definite contradiction in terms.
You caught that, too.
Maybe they can send the Taliban a strongly worded letter demanding women's rights. ROFL
They executed a girl on the same day for not wearing a burqa, I don't think they give a flip what the international community thinks.
Sure the Taliban are saying the right things under the media glare and watchful military of US and NATO countries in Kabul. What about the cities where there is no media access; or military for them to be concerned with?
The Taliban are liars. They will right back to the way things were 20 years ago. Seems to me, things didn't change a whole lot for women even after we invaded
We agree on the Taliban. They are just waiting for the US and NATO to finish clearing out before they go full bore Sharia Islamic Law.
Girls and women going to school and getting an education was a big thing. As was the right to vote for elected leaders (of course they couldn't control the horse manure they had to choose from). Women were also appointment go government positions.
Well for about 20 years it did.....
not much it didn;t. I still saw women wearing burkas
Congratulations. You saw people with deep religious belief adhering to what they believe. It was NOT mandated that they MUST, it was personal CHOICE.
Women all over the world were burkas by the way.
So fucking what?
It depended where they lived. If they lived in certain cities or parts thereof they were much better off with freedom and occupational and educational opportunities but if they lived in the other 98% of the country it didn't change much. In that other 98% of the Country the only change was "refrain from beating and killing Women in front of the American Soldiers".
Substitute the term "American soldiers" with "police officers", and that description fits almost every other country in the world. Although the Taliban take it to worse extremes.
You have heard of religious freedom have you not? Or doesn't that apply in Afghanistan?
Are you actually asking if the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution applies in Afghanistan? Is that really your question?
BTW, the answer is of course, no.
I fully agree with you.
Here is where I respectfully disagree. Women were free to get a secular (not Sharia) education and wear "western" clothing if they wished. They also ran for political offices and won. Here is one of many examples:
https://news.yahoo.com/female-mayor-afghanistan-says-shes-183456840.html
Here's another example of 20 years of Afghan women's freedoms that have quickly eroded:
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Taliban kill woman for not wearing burqa on same day they vow to honor women’s rights
So much for lip service from the Taliban on women's freedom. If they really cared they would punish their followers for shooting the woman.
Seems I was wrong; the Taliban don't give a shit that US and NATO forces are still there. Nor do they care about being seen violating the very promises their leaders are making to the Western world.
We come out really looking like shit in this. There is no other way around it. China and Russia are eagerly waiting in the wings to recognize the new Taliban government as soon as we clear out. Pigs must be flying over Moscow; who would have thought Russia would ever ally with the Taliban. Of course the promise of US drone and military technology might be too much to pass up. I am sure the Taliban can spare several of every (for the proper price that is) with what was given the Afghan military.
So the last 20 years really meant nothing. For a very short time they had some rights. But now they are all gone
Have there been any news stories yet on people being slaughtered and women being raped? I would like to see where this goes before I pass judgment, unlike so many others.
The Taliban has been shooting people for days.
There are many more articles. If you can search using DuckDuckGo, you'll be able to find them.
Here's one more ...
It was on the TV news here in China that five people marching with the original flag of Afghanistan were shot - one killed and the others wounded. Big mistake, VERY big mistake - now the word of the Taliban has been blackened, and IMO the only way they can save their reputation is to arrest, charge and convict the shooter of murder.
Morning.Buzz...Time will tell... but a leopard does not change its spots..
I hope for the best, but fear the worst...
Friend of mine.. her family migrated here 20 years ago from Afghanistan....Her father saw the chance to get out when the allies rolled up..They are packing death for their family over there..they have lost contact with them..Can be heaps of reasons for that, but certainly not looking good...
Her father said I have 3 daughters and 2 sons and the day will come when the Taliban will come back..My sons will be recruited and my daughters will be lost...Wise man...
All I am saying, is.....
Hello, shona. Very true. Here's a heart-wrenching story from the first female Afghan Air Force pilot ...
The reality of this situation is just another glaring example of how religion poisons everything. Here in the US it’s not as bad as Islamic states, but evangelicals are doing their best to push it to similar extremes.
Please post some of these "extremes" you're talking about.
West Baptist or whoever it was that protested at soldier's funerals? Remember them?
"Westboro Baptist Church" yes, those are some real nut bags.
The Taliban will rule by Sharia Law which allows women to be subjugated. Add to that the Taliban's practice of allowing village elders and religious leaders independent rule within their fiefdoms as long as they follow Sharia Law. The best way to understand Sharia Law is to think of it as their Constitution because that is essentially what it is, so any rules or laws that violate Sharia Law are Unconstitutional and Void. Well regulated Women, being necessary to the security of Men and Islam. The Right to beat or murder your wife or sell, beat, murder your Daughters shall not be infringed.
The Bible is similarly oppressive to women, and here in the US we have religious extremists pushing for it to the basis of how we need to govern.
I didn't know that religious extremists control US legislatures and courts of law.
I didn't know that religious extremists control US legislatures and courts of law.
Here in the US we have a legal separation between religion and government, although that arrangement is clearly not understood in the same terms across the board and the concept itself is under attack by the religious right at all times. It is also broadly acknowledged that being an atheist and a politician are nearly incompatible realities. I’ll let you connect the dots as to the degree with which religion and law overlap.
As to what our current state would be like if we had a Biblically based system of laws I offer the following:
(Deuteronomy 22:28-29 NAB)
If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her.
I apologize for not making it clearer that my comment 7.1.1 was sarcasm. Thanks for your efforts to educate me, though.
What part don't you understand? What concept is under attack?
We don't so your fear mongering is the usual baseless bullshit.
Does the religious right understand that being a Christian should play no role in the electability of a political candidate? Do they understand that the clear and obvious intention of tax exemptions for houses of worship is predicated on them not being using for political purposes? Do they understand that public property is not to be used to erect religious monuments? Do they understand that Bibles and religious iconography have no place in public schools? It’s not me that is unclear on any of this. Apparently you could use a little education on this matter as well since you’ve shown no knowledge of the conflict.
Are you a Christian? Maybe you’re familiar with this fun little passage:
When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she will not be freed at the end of six years as the men are. If she does not please the man who bought her, he may allow her to be bought back again. But he is not allowed to sell her to foreigners, since he is the one who broke the contract with her. And if the slave girl’s owner arranges for her to marry his son, he may no longer treat her as a slave girl, but he must treat her as his daughter. If he himself marries her and then takes another wife, he may not reduce her food or clothing or fail to sleep with her as his wife. If he fails in any of these three ways, she may leave as a free woman without making any payment. (Exodus 21:7-11 NLT)
No..I need no education, I am crystal clear on on this matter. I am not making up "conflict" that doesn't exist.
I am not making up "conflict" that doesn't exist.
If you think I just made up the issues in 7.1.6 then you are far more uninformed than I would have guessed. Either that or you’re going through a fit of cognitive dissonance.
No one is forcing any religion on you regardless of how many passages you want write.
But you keep digging that hole.
Some sure want to. Just look up David Barton and the Wallbuilders. Or perhaps Gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Wichmann.
You have some silly notion that the people that run for office aren't going to appeal to people that they associate with. Stop whining to me about what you think Christians are doing, the laws are clear, if you think someone is breaking a law report it, unless of course you want to defund the police.
Taliban restrictions and mistreatment of women include the:
1- Complete ban on women's work outside the home, which also applies to female teachers, engineers and most professionals. Only a few female doctors and nurses are allowed to work in some hospitals in Kabul.
2- Complete ban on women's activity outside the home unless accompanied by a mahram (close male relative such as a father, brother or husband).
3- Ban on women dealing with male shopkeepers.
4- Ban on women being treated by male doctors.
5- Ban on women studying at schools, universities or any other educational institution. (Taliban have converted girls' schools into religious seminaries.)
6- Requirement that women wear a long veil (Burqa), which covers them from head to toe.
7- Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram.
8- Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles.
9- Public stoning of women accused of having sex outside marriage. (A number of lovers are stoned to death under this rule).
10- Ban on the use of cosmetics. (Many women with painted nails have had fingers cut off).
11- Ban on women talking or shaking hands with non-mahram males.
12- Ban on women laughing loudly. (No stranger should hear a woman's voice).
13- Ban on women wearing high heel shoes, which would produce sound while walking. (A man must not hear a woman's footsteps.)
14- Ban on women riding in a taxi without a mahram.
15- Ban on women's presence in radio, television or public gatherings of any kind.
16- Ban on women playing sports or entering a sport center or club.
17- Ban on women riding bicycles or motorcycles, even with their mahrams.
18- Ban on women's wearing brightly colored clothes. In Taliban terms, these are "sexually attracting colors."
19- Ban on women gathering for festive occasions such as the Eids, or for any recreational purpose.
20- Ban on women washing clothes next to rivers or in a public place.
21- Modification of all place names including the word "women." For example, "women's garden" has been renamed "spring garden".
22- Ban on women appearing on the balconies of their apartments or houses.
23- Compulsory painting of all windows, so women can not be seen from outside their homes.
24- Ban on male tailors taking women's measurements or sewing women's clothes.
25- Ban on female public baths.
26- Ban on males and females traveling on the same bus. Public buses have now been designated "males only" (or "females only").
27- Ban on flared (wide) pant-legs, even under a burqa.
28- Ban on the photographing or filming of women.
29- Ban on women's pictures printed in newspapers and books, or hung on the walls of houses and shops.
Yup - women have a lot to look forward to./S/
That is ultra-srict Sharia law. Do you know FOR A FACT that that is what will continue, or is it intended to be modified by the Taliban authorities as they have announced they will do? Proof, please, if the strict Sharia is to be imposed, otherwise I put it down to conjecture.
Why are you taking up for the Taliban? It is weird as hell.
Conjecture? That would be that the Taliban won't do what it"s always done before.
Yeah, I know - hard to find.
Buzz,
They are already doing what they did in the past. They are the same old Taliban.
They've already blown it. See the comment I posted an hour ago above:
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Giving them a chance to keep to thieir promises is "taking up for the Taliban"?
THEY ALREADY BLEW IT. THEY ALREADY WENT BACK ON THEIR WORD. Take a look at my comment above:
.
That's blocked by China. If you mean for me to read it, please copy and paste it to a PN to me. You, too, might take note that I've already posted above that the Taliban have already broken their promises - it didn't take long. Let's see how they deal with that, if they do.
Wow, just wow.
And people wonder why there is such a political divide in this country; and it is growing larger by the day.
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There is but it won't happen. Clicks are too valuable.
That divide is due to trumpturd and the majority of his supporters.
Wow just wow my ass.
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