The move comes months after U.S. troops withdrew after ending a 20 – year war. Therefore, Blinken says, Amiri will talk about US concerns about Afghanistan and what the Joe Biden administration can do for Afghanistan. “We want to build a peaceful, stable and secure country where all Afghans can live and prosper in political, economic and social integration.” – Blinken said in a statement.
Taliban restrictions
Women suffered the most abuses and persecution during the Taliban’s invasion of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.
Before coming to power in August, Taliban spokesmen had promised women’s emancipation. But later actions proved that all their words were nonsense. Girls’ education was banned and women were told not to go out without wearing headscarves. Also, women are not allowed to travel long distances without a male escort.
With the Taliban taking power in Afghanistan, music has become alien to the people. Taliban leaders have said they will not make music or sing loudly. Taliban officials have warned radio stations in Kandahar not to use women as presenters. Reuters news agency reported that Kabul residents had stopped attending music nights and events.
The U.S. has made the new appointment in the wake of such violations.
Saudi as a model
Saudi Arabia was a Muslim country with restrictions on women. But now Saudi women are beginning to lie about the sweetness of freedom.
In the past, Saudi Arabia was a country where women were not even allowed to go out. Today, women are allowed to obtain their own passports and travel abroad. That too without the male escort or permission. These reforms were brought to the country under the leadership of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of an effort to modernize the Middle Eastern country.
These reforms are in line with his diversification strategy known as Vision 2030. He promised in 2017 that he would eradicate the remnants of religious extremism in Saudi Arabia and soften Islamic restrictions. Moreover, he did not limit the reforms to words. He introduced the first law that allows women to drive in Saudi Arabia, and in 2018 he started women’s emancipation.
Similarly, Saudi women have gained some freedom when it comes to clothing. Because until a few years ago, women could only go out wearing abayas (long, loose traditional dresses with black headscarves). But in 2018 there were a few concessions on dress. The Crown Prince has suggested that women should not wear the abaya in public.
At one time it was illegal for Saudi women to talk to a man they had no connection with and to spend time with another man in parks and beaches. If so, criminal charges would be brought against both parties. In it, women were subjected to severe punishments. But in December 2019, the Saudi government brought in amendments to that law as well. This eliminates the need for separate entry for men and women in restaurants.
Efforts have also been made to increase the presence of women in the workplace to empower women. The Lulu supermarket in Jeddah is an example of this. The biggest difference is that the majority of the employees in this supermarket, which started operations in 2021, are women. The world also saw the country’s respect for women and how much they were treated.
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Source: Agencies | Compiled by Bhadra Chandran
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