Do Not Accept Human Rights Sought By Western Countries, Says Taliban

On International Human Rights Day (December 10), a Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the group accepts human rights principles within the "framework of Sharia law and Afghan culture”.

Mujahid rejected the harsh criticism of the human rights situation in Afghanistan by countries and international institutions, saying that the Taliban has not violated human rights.

These countries "should not see Afghanistan from their own point of view, but from the perspective of Islam, Afghan culture and values", he told the Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) controlled by the group.

His criticisms are focused on the statements of international human rights officials and organisations that have painted a critical and bleak picture of the human rights situation in Afghanistan in the past three years with their reports.

Yesterday, the UN special rapporteurs said that the Taliban has resorted to "femicide" by removing women from the public sphere and banning them from working in all fields.

However, from the Taliban's point of view, banning women's work and education is not a violation of human rights, and keeping women at home is to support them.

The Taliban spokesman said that international demands for human rights in Afghanistan are contrary to Islamic values and Afghan culture, saying, "The same rights that are common in the West, demanding them from the people of Afghanistan are not principled. We define the issue of human rights based on Afghan values and culture and beliefs.”

Western countries have called on the Taliban to allow women to study like other Islamic countries, but the group considers education for girls above the sixth grade to be against Sharia.

Claiming that "human rights and the rights of all citizens in Afghanistan are protected", Mujahid added that with the arrival of this group, "deaths and human casualties have been prevented".

Human casualties have decreased since the fall of the previous government in Afghanistan. In the past 20 years, many civilians had been killed and injured during the Taliban's conflict with the Republican government, as well as the group's suicide attacks in cities.

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan warned on Tuesday that the human rights situation, especially the situation of women, in Afghanistan is deteriorating. On International Human Rights Day, UNAMA said that the legitimacy of the Taliban depends on respect for human rights.