Qatar addresses Taliban: Islamic teachings do not restrict women

A Qatari foreign ministry spokesman says the Taliban should know that Islamic teachings do not restrict women.

“While recognizing the sensitivity of the Taliban to backing down from their commitments, we also emphasize the importance of not isolating Afghanistan again,” said Majid al-Ansari, a spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry, speaking at a virtual special meeting on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan’s isolation legitimizes radical positions in the country,” he said. “We need to be very clear in our dialogue with the Taliban about any human rights violations.”

“Islamic teachings do not restrict women,” Mr. Ansari continued, criticizing the Taliban’s treatment of women.

“We must not leave Afghanistan,” the Qatari foreign ministry spokesman said. “We have left Afghanistan once and we know what the outcome has been.”

A special virtual conference on humanitarian aid to Afghanistan co-hosted by the United Nations, Britain, Germany and Qatar in Geneva today condemned the closure of girls’ schools in Afghanistan and called on the international community not to leave the Afghan people alone.

According to the host countries, 60% of the Afghan people now need urgent humanitarian assistance.