UN says it will continue to hold talks with Taliban despite criticism of ‘law of silence’ on women

Aug. 31 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The UN has said it will continue to “dialogue” with the Afghan authorities, despite the Taliban’s “morality police” announcing on Friday that it will not support or cooperate with the UN mission following criticism of the group for its “law of silence” on women.

“We have been very clear about our decision to continue to virtually eliminate the presence of women in Afghanistan. As regards contacts with the de facto authorities, I would like to say that we will continue to engage with all stakeholders in Afghanistan, including the Taliban,” said UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.

During a press conference, Dujarric assured that the United Nations will continue its work “in accordance with the mandate of the Security Council,” while urging the “de facto authorities” to “open more avenues for diplomatic engagement.”

The UN representative also took the opportunity to defend that they have “always” worked “impartially and in good faith” in line with the United Nations standards and “promoting messages of Human Rights and equality.”

These comments come after the Taliban announced that they “will not provide any support or cooperation” with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which they have described as an “opposition party”, due to the “propaganda” poured out against the group over new legislation that consolidates discrimination against women.

“We want international organisations, countries and individuals who criticised the law to respect the religious values ​​of Muslims and avoid criticism and statements that insult the values ​​and sacred concepts of Islam,” they stressed, arguing that the law would be beneficial to the population.

UNAMA on Sunday expressed concern over the so-called “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Act,” warning that it includes “significant restrictions” on the population. “It is a bleak vision for the future of Afghanistan, where morality inspectors have broad powers to threaten and detain anyone based on broad and sometimes vague lists of violations,” said Roza Otunbayeva, head of the mission.

The law prohibits women from speaking in public, listening to music sung by women, taking public transport without being accompanied by a male guardian, participating in games or any other form of entertainment, or adopting Western hairstyles.