Afghan Women Sent to Prison by Taliban for 'Protection' from Gender-Based Violence, States UN

The UN report on the Taliban's treatment of Afghan women is alarming. It highlights how women are being sent to prison purportedly for protection against gender-based violence. The Taliban's restrictions on women have intensified, affecting their education, movement, and rights, triggering global concern for human rights violations.

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In a recent UN report, shocking revelations emerged about the treatment of Afghan women by Taliban officials. The report claims that Afghan women, instead of being protected, are being sent to prison by Taliban authorities to safeguard them from gender-based violence. This purported protection measure, according to the report, only serves to further harm the mental and physical health of the already vulnerable women.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) highlighted that confining women in punitive environments leads to re-victimization, mental and physical health deterioration, and increased risk of discrimination upon release. Moreover, the Taliban's actions of sending women to prison are prompted when they lack male relatives or when their male relatives are deemed unsafe.

The report also shed light on the dwindling number of state-sponsored women's protection centers in Afghanistan. Before the Taliban's control in 2021, there were 23 such centers; however, none exist presently, exacerbating the plight of Afghan women.

Furthermore, the Taliban officials reportedly dismissed the need for shelters, deeming them a Western concept, and imposed severe restrictions on women. These restrictions include barring women from education beyond the sixth grade, enforcing dress codes, and mandating a male chaperone for public travel.

The UNAMA emphasized that gender-based violence against Afghan women was prevalent even before the Taliban's rule, but the current economic and humanitarian crises have exacerbated the situation. The Taliban government's handling of gender-based violence complaints remains unclear and inconsistent, instilling fear in survivors and deterring them from seeking formal justice.

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Amid these distressing developments, Taliban officials have expressed controversial opinions, stating that women must accept a man's authority and emphasizing gender inequality as per their interpretation of Sharia law. These actions and statements by the Taliban have sparked international outrage and raised concerns about human rights violations in Afghanistan, especially regarding women's rights.

Additionally, the Taliban's ban on women's beauty parlors, citing religious reasons and economic concerns during weddings, adds to the growing list of restrictions imposed on Afghan women. This series of oppressive measures continues to draw global attention and condemnation for its infringement on basic human rights.