Taliban Promises Women's Rights under 'Islamic Law'
2021-08-18
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1After quickly taking over major Afghan cities and the national government in the past week, the Taliban offered promises Tuesday to rule the country differently than in the past.
2In statements to reporters, leaders of the group offered to respect women's rights, forgive those who resisted them and to ensure a secure Afghanistan.
3The Taliban comments appear to be an attempt to position the group as more moderate than when they imposed extreme rule in Afghanistan in the late 1990s.
4But many Afghans remain fearful of a Taliban-led government and foreign governments are also worried.
5On Monday, thousands of citizens raced to the airport in the capital, Kabul, in hopes of fleeing the country a day after the Taliban seized the capital and took over government headquarters.
6U.S. officials said at least seven people died in the chaos.
7Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid held a news conference Tuesday to answer questions about the group's plans.
8Mujahid promised that the Taliban would honor women's rights, but only within the norms of Islamic law.
9He did not provide additional details.
10He said the group also wanted private media to "remain independent,"
11but stressed that reporters "should not work against national values."
12Mujahid added that the Taliban would secure Afghanistan and offer an "amnesty" across the country for people who had worked for or supported foreign "occupiers."
13If someone offers amnesty to another, it provides forgiveness without fear of punishment.
14The Taliban last held power in Afghanistan in the late 1990s.
15Many Afghan people remember the group's rule as brutal and ultra-conservative.
16The Taliban's rule was based on strict Islamic law.
17The law included heavy restrictions on women and extreme punishments such as cutting off body parts and throwing stones at those who broke rules.
18The Taliban was forced out of power by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
19The group was ousted for providing refuge to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida - the extremist group that attacked and killed 3,000 Americans in the terrorist event known as September 11.
20Even though the Taliban said it will not go after its enemies, some people in Kabul said the group had kept lists of people who helped the former government or countries like the U.S.
21A broadcaster in Afghanistan said she was in hiding because Taliban fighters were looking for journalists.
22Enamullah Samangani is a member of the Taliban's cultural commission.
23He said the new leadership, which is called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,
24wants to give women chances to work and study and work in government.
25He repeated, however, that such activities would only be permitted under "Islamic law" rules and in keeping with the group's "cultural values."
26Samangani did not explain what he meant by "Islamic law."
27Rupert Colville is a spokesman for the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
28He said the Taliban needs to honor its promises and that "hard-won advances in human rights" must be defended.
29Germany and Sweden said they would both reduce the amount of money it sends to Afghanistan.
30Great Britain, however, said it would increase financial assistance to help people in need.
31Even with flights landing and some taking off at Kabul's airport, people wondered whether it was safe.
32An Afghan official told the Associated Press that Taliban fighters entered the civilian part of the airport and fired guns to chase away about 500 people who were there.
33The Associated Press reported that talks continued Tuesday between the Taliban and several Afghan government officials about the country's future.
34The officials included former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country's negotiating team.
35Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flew out of the country over the weekend with his vice president and other senior officials.
36Officials with knowledge of the latest talks told the AP the discussions centered on how a Taliban-led government could work with other groups.
37Talks on power-sharing could be complex because of the changes Afghanistan has experienced over the past 20 years, the officials said.
38I'm Dan Friedell.
1After quickly taking over major Afghan cities and the national government in the past week, the Taliban offered promises Tuesday to rule the country differently than in the past. 2In statements to reporters, leaders of the group offered to respect women's rights, forgive those who resisted them and to ensure a secure Afghanistan. 3The Taliban comments appear to be an attempt to position the group as more moderate than when they imposed extreme rule in Afghanistan in the late 1990s. 4But many Afghans remain fearful of a Taliban-led government and foreign governments are also worried. On Monday, thousands of citizens raced to the airport in the capital, Kabul, in hopes of fleeing the country a day after the Taliban seized the capital and took over government headquarters. U.S. officials said at least seven people died in the chaos. 5Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid held a news conference Tuesday to answer questions about the group's plans. 6Mujahid promised that the Taliban would honor women's rights, but only within the norms of Islamic law. He did not provide additional details. He said the group also wanted private media to "remain independent," but stressed that reporters "should not work against national values." 7Mujahid added that the Taliban would secure Afghanistan and offer an "amnesty" across the country for people who had worked for or supported foreign "occupiers." If someone offers amnesty to another, it provides forgiveness without fear of punishment. 8The Taliban last held power in Afghanistan in the late 1990s. Many Afghan people remember the group's rule as brutal and ultra-conservative. 9The Taliban's rule was based on strict Islamic law. The law included heavy restrictions on women and extreme punishments such as cutting off body parts and throwing stones at those who broke rules. 10The Taliban was forced out of power by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001. The group was ousted for providing refuge to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida - the extremist group that attacked and killed 3,000 Americans in the terrorist event known as September 11. 11Even though the Taliban said it will not go after its enemies, some people in Kabul said the group had kept lists of people who helped the former government or countries like the U.S. 12A broadcaster in Afghanistan said she was in hiding because Taliban fighters were looking for journalists. 13Enamullah Samangani is a member of the Taliban's cultural commission. He said the new leadership, which is called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, wants to give women chances to work and study and work in government. He repeated, however, that such activities would only be permitted under "Islamic law" rules and in keeping with the group's "cultural values." 14Samangani did not explain what he meant by "Islamic law." 15Rupert Colville is a spokesman for the U.N. Human Rights Commission. He said the Taliban needs to honor its promises and that "hard-won advances in human rights" must be defended. 16Germany and Sweden said they would both reduce the amount of money it sends to Afghanistan. Great Britain, however, said it would increase financial assistance to help people in need. 17Even with flights landing and some taking off at Kabul's airport, people wondered whether it was safe. 18An Afghan official told the Associated Press that Taliban fighters entered the civilian part of the airport and fired guns to chase away about 500 people who were there. 19The Associated Press reported that talks continued Tuesday between the Taliban and several Afghan government officials about the country's future. The officials included former President Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country's negotiating team. 20Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flew out of the country over the weekend with his vice president and other senior officials. 21Officials with knowledge of the latest talks told the AP the discussions centered on how a Taliban-led government could work with other groups. Talks on power-sharing could be complex because of the changes Afghanistan has experienced over the past 20 years, the officials said. 22I'm Dan Friedell. 23Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports from the Associated Press. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 24What can the Taliban do to make you believe their promises? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 25______________________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27impose - v. to order or put in place 28chaos - n. a situation in which there is no order 29brutal - adj. very violent or cruel 30strict - adj. describing a command, rule or something that must be exactly obeyed