The Supreme Leader of the Taliban has vowed to start stoning women to death in public. And he claimed this was a continuation of the fight against Western democracy.

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US Policy Fails

Following the US’s chaotic 2021 withdrawal the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan.

In 2021, President Joe Biden vowed the country that once harbored Osama bin Laden would “never again become a terrorist safe haven.” And the Taliban would never dare to abuse women as they did before the US’s nearly two decades long occupation.

The Biden administration continues to funnel millions of dollars to the Taliban.

This “aid” money was to assure that the atrocities of the past did not return to the country. But it is widely reported that none of the money from the US and other countries has gone to the people. And it only enriches and emboldens the Taliban. 

The Taliban

In a chilling declaration broadcasted over Afghanistan's state TV, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the elusive leader of the Taliban, sent a clear message that the regime plans to begin anew the brutal punishments for women.

He is promising public stoning and flogging as penalties for adultery. Akhundzada's words echoed the resurgence of Taliban total authority since the group's takeover of Kabul in August 2021.

In a rare public address from the Taliban leader, he underscored the group's unwavering commitment to enforcing its harsh interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

Afghan women now have to be completely covered to leave their homes or go out in public.

Despite global outcry and promises of a more moderate regime, the Taliban swiftly reverted to draconian measures reminiscent of their oppressive rule in the late 1990s.

The Taliban's re-establishment has raised grave concerns about the fate of women's rights in Afghanistan.

The promise of a more inclusive government has given way to a grim reality, with women facing the imminent threat of public executions and lashings for perceived transgressions. 

Akhundzada's words signal a direct challenge to the international community's advocacy for women's rights, framing it as a clash between Western ideals and the Taliban's rigid interpretation of Sharia law.

Return to Barbarism

The United Nations, among others, has condemned the Taliban's repressive tactics, urging an immediate halt to such barbaric practices.

Akhundzada's assertion that women's rights are antithetical to Sharia law underscores the deep-rooted ideological chasm between the Taliban and the broader international community.

Amid escalating tensions, Afghan citizens have called for increased international pressure on the Taliban to uphold basic human rights.

However, Akhundzada's defiance suggests a steadfast resolve within the Taliban ranks, fueled by a commitment to impose their version of Sharia law on Afghan society.

Tala, a former civil servant in the capital city of Kabul told The Telegraph that “The money that they receive from the international community as humanitarian aid is just feeding them against women.” 

“As a woman, I don’t feel safe and secure in Afghanistan. Each morning starts with a barrage of notices and orders imposing restrictions and stringent rules on women, stripping away even the smallest joys and extinguishing hope for a brighter future,” she added.

“We, the women, are living in prison,” Tala emphasized, “And the Taliban are making it smaller for us every passing day.”