TalibanACK Women Working For Aid Institutes: European Union Desak Revocation, Consider Consequences

Afghan woman illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/The White House/Eric Draper)

JAKARTA - Senior European Union officials urged the Taliban to immediately lift the ban on women from working in aid agencies, citing the consequences of this against the group that ruled Afghanistan.

The Taliban's decision to ban women from working for aid agencies has drawn widespread condemnation, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell saying the bloc would be forced to "consider the consequences".

Meanwhile, Kabul said the move, which was condemned globally, was justified because some women did not comply with the strict dress rules of the Taliban's theocracy for women.

On Sunday, aid agencies including Save the Children, the Norwegian Refugee Council, and CARE International said they were forced to stop operations because there were no female staff.

In fact, millions of Afghans depend on foreign aid after the country fell into a severe economic crisis following the withdrawal of the US-led coalition in August last year.

When the Taliban regained power, directed Afghan troops and marched to Kabul, foreign financial aid to the country, which effectively supported the economy, was withdrawn.

The European Union, the IMF and the World Bank quickly joined the US in freezing aid transfers.

The World Bank estimates foreign aid consists of about 43 percent of Afghanistan's GDP, before the Taliban's victory. Some of this aid has been restored, but the Taliban's decision has created a crisis to continue assistance.

Borrell said she was shocked by the latest decision, which followed a ban on women from attending universities last week, and a crackdown on peaceful protests by women against the move.

"Together with other aid providers for the Afghan people, the EU should consider what the consequences of this decision would be, and a recent decision by the Taliban to close universities for women over their involvement with our country and organization," Borrell said. December 26th.

Furthermore, He urged the Taliban to immediately revoke their decision as part of its obligation to respect international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles.

Not only the European Union, the move has drawn criticism from around the world, including the US. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the ban would "disturb important aid and save the lives of millions of people" in a tweet on Twitter.

"This decision could destroy the Afghan people," he said.

In response, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter the US should stop interfering in Afghanistan's affairs. The militant group will not allow "any person to talk about trash or make threats regarding the decisions of our leaders on behalf of humanitarian aid", he added.