Taliban and UN pledge ongoing engagement amid morality law dispute

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres assures continued engagement with all stakeholders in Afghanistan.
• The law is based on the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law.
• UNAMA head Roza Otunbayeva warns the law could hinder cooperation efforts, a concern also echoed by the EU.

A Taliban government spokesman stated that Afghan authorities are committed to engaging with the international community following a new morality law that has sparked tense exchanges over women’s rights. The United Nations and the European Union have warned that the law, which requires women to cover up completely and refrain from raising their voices in public, could harm prospects for engagement with foreign nations and international organizations.

Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat responded to the UN secretary-general’s spokesman, who assured continued engagement with the Taliban authorities. This came after Afghanistan’s morality ministry announced it would cease cooperation with the UN mission in the country, UNAMA, due to criticism of the law. In a voice message to journalists on Saturday, Fitrat stated that the authorities are “committed to positive interactions with all countries and organizations by Islamic law.”

“Interaction is the only way to achieve solutions to problems and for the progression and expansion of relations,” he said, urging nations and organizations to engage positively with the Taliban authorities.

Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban government has not been recognized by any state. However, it has recently made diplomatic inroads, including participating in UN-hosted talks on Afghanistan in Qatar.

On Friday, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “We will continue to engage with all stakeholders in Afghanistan, including the Taliban.”

“We have always done so following our mandate and I would say impartially and in good faith, always upholding the norms of the UN, pushing the messages of human rights and equality,” said Stephane Dujarric.

“We would urge the de facto authorities to, in fact, open more avenues for diplomatic engagement,” he added.

Earlier on Friday, the morality ministry announced it would no longer cooperate with UNAMA due to its criticisms of the “Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,” which was ratified last week.

The law, which imposes rules on many aspects of Afghans’ lives based on the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, has sparked concern among Afghans, various countries, human rights advocates, UN agencies, and the EU.

The law prohibits women from raising their voices in public and requires them to cover their entire body and face if they need to leave the house “out of necessity.” It also strictly regulates men’s behavior and dress, granting the morality police the power to warn and detain individuals for non-compliance.

UNAMA head Roza Otunbayeva said last week that the law presents “a distressing vision for Afghanistan’s future,” warning that it could hinder cooperation efforts, a concern also echoed by the EU. The Taliban government has consistently dismissed international criticism of its policies, including the restrictions on women that the UN has labeled “gender apartheid.”

Chief government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has said the law is “firmly rooted in Islamic teachings” that should be respected and understood, adding rejection of the law showed “arrogance.”

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