The militant Islamist group currently ruling Afghanistan have issued a statement prohibiting forced marriage in Afghanistan.
As per Al Jazeera, the statement said that women must not be deemed as ‘property’. It added, women must consent to marriage even though the statement may be considered as a piece of positive news, questions regarding whether the Taliban would extend women’s rights around work and education in the country.
On the 3rd of December, the decree was announced by the isolated Taliban chief, Hibatullah Akhunzada, who is believed to be present in the southern city of Kandahar. The decree said, “Both (women and men) should be equal,” adding that “no one can force women to marry by coercion or pressure”.
The Executive Director of the Afghan Women’s Skills Development Center from Kabul said, “This is big, this is huge … if it is done as it is supposed to be, this is the first time they have come up with a decree like this.”
For Widows
The decree also specified some rules for widows. However, it didn’t mention the minimum age of marriage. Previously, it was set at 16 years old.
They specified that they couldn’t pick a new husband freely for widows. However, they are now allowed to re-marry 17 weeks after their husband’s death. Tribal traditions that are long-established have held it customary for a widow to marry her husband’s brothers or relatives in the event of his death.
The militant Islamist group has ordered Afghan courts to treat women fairly.
Widows in this regard must be treated fairly in association with inheritance issues. They have asked government ministers to spread information about women’s rights across the community.
Taliban Ask Women to Join the Government & Promise Peace Amid Fears of Loss of Rights. Read the full story here:
US troops left Afghanistan after 20 years, following this, the world witnessed the collapse of the Afghan government and military. While the president of the country, Ashraf Ghani has successfully fled the country, the military has given in to the Taliban, sometimes even without a fight.
Taliban Ask Women to Join the Government & Promise Peace Amid Fears of Loss of Rights
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