Taliban abolish election commissions and peace ministry: ‘No need now’

The Taliban have dissolved two electoral commissions and the Ministries of Peace and Parliamentary Affairs in Afghanistan. According to a spokesperson, the authorities are “unnecessary given the current situation in the country”.

The two electoral commissions were allowed to organize and monitor all elections in the country, including presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections. According to the spokesman for the extremist Islamic movement, the authorities can be brought back to life if necessary in the future. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs has already been abolished.

It is still unclear how the Taliban intend to rule Afghanistan. It is feared that, as in the period 1996-2001, the country will face a reign of terror.

Women’s rights curtailed

In recent times, the rules in Afghanistan have become much stricter, especially for women. It was announced today that women without a hijab are no longer allowed to sit in a car. Women are also no longer allowed to make longer journeys alone, but must be accompanied by a male family member from the Ministry of Preserving Virtue and Combating Vice.

A Taliban spokesman said last summer that the Islamic emirate, as Afghanistan is now called in Taliban jargon, guarantees the safety of everyone, including those who have fought against the Taliban or have collaborated with Western countries.

The Taliban have been in power for several months now. Nieuwsuur recently spoke to Afghans who now have to live with the threat of the sometimes ruthless new rulers:

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