UN, EU condemn new restrictions on Afghan women

ATLANTA (Pajhwok): The United Nations and the European Union have expressed their concern and condemned new restrictions on women by the caretaker government of Afghanistan.

On Sunday, the acting government declared that gyms and public baths were now off-limits to women, a few days later banning women from parks and funfairs.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Wednesday tweeted that it was deeply concerned by recent Taliban officials’ statements and mounting on-the-ground reports of women being prevented from using parks, gyms and baths.

“All Afghans' rights should be upheld, particularly women's access to all forms of public life and girls' right to education,” the mission said.

Meanwhile, the European Union also condemned the imposition of new restrictions on Afghan women.

Peter Stano, the EU head spokesman for foreign affairs and security policy, in a statement said the acting Afghan government was violating its initials promises by continuing violation of the rights of women and girls.

The Amnesty International also said that banning women from going to public parks was another blow to their rights.

Akif Muhajir, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, said they tried their best during the past 15 months not to close parks and gyms for women, but people did not care about the orders issued for separation of women and men and women also did not comply with the hijab order.

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