KABUL —
Afghanistan's new Taliban authorities warned
Saturday they have the right to crack down on dissent and jail protesters, as
concerns grew over the disappearance of two women activists.
اضافة اعلان
Since storming back to power in August amid a hasty
withdrawal of US-led foreign forces, Taliban authorities have forcefully
dispersed rallies, beaten some Afghan journalists and arrested critics.
This week, women activists said two of their comrades were
seized from their homes in the capital after taking part in a demonstration.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan called for the
Taliban to "provide information" on the whereabouts of Tamana Zaryabi
Paryani and Parwana Ibrahimkhel, reportedly abducted from their homes on
Wednesday night.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied any
women were being held, but said authorities had the right "to arrest and
detain dissidents or those who break the law".
"Nobody should create turmoil, because it disrupts
peace and order," he told AFP in an interview.
There have been a scattering of small protests demanding
women's rights, which have improved marginally in the patriarchal Muslim nation
over the past 20 years.
But the Taliban banned all unsanctioned protests after
returning to power.
"If this happened in any other country, such people
would be arrested," Mujahid said. "We are not allowing illegal
activities."
'Forces still not trained'
Desperate for international recognition to unlock frozen
assets, the Taliban have largely refrained from issuing national policies that
provoke outrage abroad.
But provincial officials have issued guidelines and edicts
based on local interpretations of Islamic law and Afghan custom that have
curbed women's freedoms.
Girls in most provinces have not been allowed to return to
secondary school, public universities are shuttered, and women have been banned
from most public sector jobs.
Women must also be accompanied on long journeys by a close
male relative, while posters have gone up in
Kabul ordering them to cover up —
illustrated by the all-covering burqa.
On Friday, two international NGO workers in rural Badghis
province said religious police issued a warning that women staff will be shot
for not wearing the burqa.
Mujahid, who is also the deputy minister of culture and
information, excused the threats and intimidation, saying forces were
"very new ... and not professional".
"They haven't been trained," he said.
Aid talks
Aid-dependent Afghanistan is facing an acute humanitarian
crisis and global donors insist the Taliban must respect women's rights if
their government is to be recognized.
Despite increasing restrictions and many living in fear,
Mujahid insists the new regime believes in women's rights — but in accordance
with their interpretation of Islamic law.
"Even without demands (from the international
community), we feel the necessity for women to work and be educated," he
said.
But he offered no timeline for allowing girls back to
classrooms in provinces where schools remain shut, beyond saying it would be
happening "in the coming year".
"We can’t fix a deadline for that," he said,
blaming the weak economy, and inexperience of the new authorities.
On Saturday, a delegation led by foreign minister Amir Khan
Muttaqi left for Oslo for talks with officials from the US,
EU and other vested
nations — as well as members of Afghan civil society, including women.
It will be the first visit by the new Taliban government to
the West.
The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, meanwhile, has
deteriorated drastically since their takeover.
International aid came to a halt and Washington has frozen
$9.5 billion in Afghan central bank assets held overseas.
Hunger now threatens 23 million Afghans — or 55 percent of
the population — according to the UN, which says it needs $5 billion this year
to address the crisis.
"The Islamic Emirate has taken steps for meeting the
demands of the Western world and we hope to strengthen our relations through
diplomacy with all countries," Mujahid said.
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