Gordon Brown, the former UK prime minister and current UN special envoy for global education, has labeled the Taliban's treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan a "crime against humanity," BBC reports.
Brown is urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute those responsible for the severe human rights abuses. The Taliban, since reclaiming power in 2021, has significantly curtailed the rights of women and girls, restricting their education, employment, and public activities.
Brown described these restrictions as "the most heinous, most vicious, most comprehensive abuse of human rights in place around the world today." He likened the situation to "gender apartheid" and urged the ICC to investigate and prosecute.
He also called for UK sanctions on the Taliban leadership and for Muslim-majority countries' leaders and clerics to emphasize the value of women's rights within Islam.
Brown's comments come as the approaching two-year mark of the Taliban's takeover coincides with a deteriorating situation. The Taliban had promised a more moderate rule upon their return to power, but they have enacted harsh restrictions, including barring girls from secondary schools and women from universities.
These measures extend to various aspects of public life, such as amusement parks and gyms, and entail strict dress codes. The United Nations has described the conditions for women as suffocating and isolating, with many struggling to meet their basic needs due to the lack of employment opportunities or assistance. Around 40% of Afghanistan's population suffers from acute food insecurity, compounding the crisis.
Human Rights Watch researcher Fereshta Abbasi emphasized that Afghans are enduring a "humanitarian and human rights nightmare under Taliban rule." She urged the Taliban to reject their oppressive policies and called on the global community to hold them accountable for the dire circumstances in the country.
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