By Rukhshana Media
Women are secured and protected in the Taliban government, the group’s Prime Minister said on Saturday, in his first public speech since the group came to power, over three months ago.
“Now, women are secure and security is very important for them,” said the Taliban’s Prime Minister, Mohammad Hassan Akhund in an audio speech broadcasted on state-run Television.
“We are not like the previous government, where women were working and experiencing many problems. Now, wherever they work and study, they will be secured and protected,” he said in Pashto, one of the two official languages of the country.
The claim comes amid growing concern about the rollback of women’s rights in the country. The group’s all-male Taliban cabinet, imposed restrictions on women’s rights, especially rights to education and work. The Taliban has banned almost all women from work until the group prepares a “framework” to allow their return. The group also banned teenage girls from attending secondary schools at least until next year.
The Taliban prime minister promised his government would allow women’s education as it is based on Islamic Sharia.
However, as a conservative Taliban mullah during the group’s previous rule in 1990, Akhund has been known for his role in the Taliban’s ban on women education and gender segregation.
