Kabul: The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has rejected recent criticism from 17 countries regarding women’s rights in Afghanistan, calling it a display of double standards and a tool for political pressure.
In a statement, Saif-ul-Islam Khyber, the ministry’s spokesperson, asserted that Afghanistan, as an Islamic nation, upholds fair rights for women and all citizens based on Islamic law. He accused international critics of using human rights as a political weapon to pressure the Islamic Emirate.
“Attacking the ministry’s policies under the pretext of women’s rights reflects the international community’s double standards and misuse of human rights slogans for political gains,” Khyber said.
The ministry’s response came after female foreign ministers from 17 countries—including Canada, Australia, Germany, and representatives of the European Union—issued a joint statement expressing concern over the growing restrictions on Afghan women and girls.
The statement emphasized that no nation can achieve lasting peace or prosperity without ensuring women's full participation. The ministers urged the Islamic Emirate to lift barriers preventing women from accessing education, healthcare, and public life.
“A peaceful and stable Afghanistan is only possible when all citizens, including women and girls, can actively participate in shaping the country's future,” the statement read. It also called for women’s inclusion in both domestic decision-making and international dialogues on Afghanistan’s future.
Women’s rights activists in Afghanistan echoed these concerns. Activists stressed the importance of women’s contributions to national progress:
“We cannot move forward by excluding half of society. Women’s voices are essential for the country’s development,” she said.
Activists in Afghanistan, emphasized the need for women’s representation in national and international discussions:
“Progress is impossible with only one segment of society. Women must be present in decision-making platforms and global forums,” she stated.
The international community also condemned the Islamic Emirate’s recent ban on girls’ access to health centers, which took effect in December 2024. Critics warned that the decision could worsen Afghanistan’s already high maternal and child mortality rates.
