The deputy head of the Taliban’s culture commission, Ahmadullah Wasiq, has stated that they will not allow women to do more sports in Afghanistan, according to the news agency AP.
He singled out one sport that would be illegal for Afghan women:
In cricket, they can end up in a situation where face and body are not covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen that way, Wasiq told the Australian TV channel SBS.
Fear photos and video
Wasiq points to the media as the main reason why the sport will be banned.
– Pictures and video will be taken, and people will watch it. Islam does not allow women to play cricket, or any other sport where they are exposed, the deputy explained.
A month ago, Wasiq said that men can continue to play cricket, and that Islam has allowed the national team to play in Australia in November. However, Cricket Australia made it clear that the match will not take place if it is true that Afghan women are no longer allowed to participate in the sport.
– Supporting the growth of women’s cricket is extremely important for Cricket Australia. Our vision for cricket is that it is a sport for everyone, and we support the game for women at all levels, it was stated in their statement.
– Unacceptable
Australian Sports Minister Richard Colbeck believes the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports is “deeply worrying”. He is said to have encouraged organizations such as Cricket Australia to act.
“Exclusion of women in sports is unacceptable,” said Colbeck, who also called on international sports authorities to take action.
Female football players from Arghanistan are among those who have received Australian visas, and they are now in quarantine due to the coronary restrictions in the country.
Avoids promises about women’s rights
On Tuesday, the Taliban issued a statement saying they had appointed a caretaker government, made up entirely of men. Several of these have previously held leadership positions back in the 90s, when the Islamist movement last took control of the country.
In a statement, they tried to reassure neighboring countries and the rest of the world. Here, they highlighted the care of minorities and the disadvantaged as a theme, and promised to “take care of all compatriots within the framework of Sharia law”.
The rights of Afghan women were not mentioned in the statement.
Demonstrations ended in violence
On Friday last week, people took to the streets of Kabul to demand justice for Afghan women. The pictures from the demonstration show men and women with Afghan flags and clenched fists in the air, in solidarity for women’s rights.
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The eyes of the world are on the Taliban. Photo: Thibault Camus / AP
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Female protesters in the streets of Kabul, September 3, 2021. Photo: –
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The protests ended in violence when Taliban soldiers intervened. They tried to stop the protesters as they marched towards the presidential palace, using tear gas, according to TELO News.
The Afghan news channel also showed images of confrontation between women and Taliban soldiers. The video clips include women screaming and some shouting:
– Why are you beating us?
Afghan women have previously opened up about their fears that they will be deprived of their rights by the new authorities.
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