Roza Otunbayeva: The Taliban's New Law Has Jeopardized the Group's Engagement with the International Community

Otunbayeva made these remarks on Wednesday (September 18) during the UN Security Council session on Afghanistan.

She stated, "Whether intentional or unintentional, introducing certain restrictions in this law, which has already been condemned by the international community, undermines engagement with the group." She added that since taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on Afghan women under the guise of their interpretation of Islamic law.

The UN Special Representative also noted that women under Taliban rule are deprived of basic rights such as education, access to public spaces, and the ability to work in several government and private institutions.

Otunbayeva highlighted the third Doha meeting as an opportunity for the Taliban to hear the concerns of participating countries regarding human rights, particularly the restrictions on women and girls. She said this meeting signaled the start of meaningful dialogue, but the Taliban's approval of the new law on the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice has undermined the meeting's achievements.

It is worth noting that the Taliban's new law has faced severe domestic and international criticism.