A burqa-clad woman holds a banner during a women protest in support of the Taliban regime in front of the US embassy at the Ahmad Shah Massoud square in Kabul on January 26, 2022. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP)
Kabul, Afghanistan 鈥� The Taliban on Friday rejected the UN Security Council鈥檚 call to reverse heavy restrictions imposed on Afghan women, dismissing their concerns as 鈥渦nfounded.鈥�
The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday that criticized the Taliban for limiting girls鈥� and women鈥檚 access to education and government jobs, and freedom of movement since seizing power in 2021.
Afghanistan鈥檚 supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has also ordered women to cover up 鈥� including their faces 鈥� when in public, triggering international outrage.
READ: Taliban orders Afghan women to cover faces again
The Security Council鈥檚 15 member states called on the Taliban 鈥渢o swiftly reverse the policies and practices which are currently restricting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Afghan women and girls.鈥�
It also demanded the hardliners reopen all schools to female students.
READ: UN Security Council asks Taliban to allow Afghan girls to attend school
Afghanistan鈥檚 foreign ministry said the government considers the Security Council鈥檚 concerns as 鈥渦nfounded and reaffirms its commitment鈥� to rights of Afghan women.
鈥淪ince the people of Afghanistan are predominantly Muslim, the Afghan government considers the observance of Islamic hijab to be in line with the religious and cultural practices of society,鈥� the ministry said in a statement.
The Taliban adhere to an austere interpretation of Islam.
Their last stint in power between 1996 and 2001 was marked by human rights violations, and, despite promising a softer rule this time around, they have increasingly trampled over the freedoms of Afghans.
In the two decades of US military intervention that followed the ousting of the Taliban in 2001, Afghan women and girls made marginal gains in restoring their rights.
UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan Richard Bennett on Thursday said the Taliban鈥檚 restrictions were aimed at making women 鈥渋nvisible in society鈥�, at the end of a visit to Kabul.
No country has recognized the new Taliban government, and the authorities have so far failed in their efforts to assume Afghanistan鈥檚 seat at the world body.
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