Women Will Be Stoned To Death For Adultery, Declares Taliban Leader

More than two-thirds of the UN Security Council's members united on February 26, 2024, to demand the Taliban rescind all policies and decrees that oppress and discriminate against women and girls. This crucial call to action aims at dismantling the restrictive measures imposed by the Taliban, including the ban on girls' education beyond the sixth grade and the infringement upon women's right to work and move freely.

Just a month later, in a chilling audio message purportedly delivered by the Taliban's supreme leader, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, he outlines a draconian implementation of Sharia law, foreseeing public floggings and stonings for offences like adultery. Akhundzada, unyielding in his stance, challenges Western democracies while asserting the Taliban’s authority in shaping Afghanistan’s future.

The Taliban's Agenda

Akhundzada's uncompromising rhetoric leaves no room for doubt regarding the Taliban's intent to trample upon the fundamental rights of Afghan women. By openly advocating for barbaric practices such as public stonings and floggings, the Taliban reveals its disdain for the principles of equality, justice, and humanity. Despite global condemnation and vehement opposition, the Taliban remains steadfast in its mission to impose its draconian version of Islamic law upon the Afghan populace, especially upon women. 

Akhundzada challenges Western democracies, dismissing their advocacy for women's rights as antithetical to the tenets of Shariah. His assertion, laden with religious rhetoric, seeks to justify the Taliban's oppressive measures under the guise of a divine mandate.

“You say it’s a violation of women’s rights when we stone them (women) to death... But we will soon implement the punishment for adultery. We will flog women in public. We will stone them to death in public. These are all against your democracy but we will continue doing it. We both say we defend human rights – we do it as God’s representative and you as the devil’s." Akhundzada claimed. 

The Taliban's resurgence has ushered in a reign of terror for Afghan women, reminiscent of the dark days of their previous rule from 1996 to 2001. Under the guise of religious piety, the Taliban systematically strips women of their basic freedoms and opportunities, relegating them to a subordinate status dictated by archaic interpretations of Islamic law.

Questioning Interpretations and Consequences

The statement raises pertinent questions about the interpretation of Islamic law and the potential repercussions, especially for women. Is there a legitimate basis for such a severe interpretation of Islamic law? And does this rhetoric hint at an escalation in the administration of such punishments, particularly directed towards women?

Sarah Eltantawi, an associate professor of modern Islam at Fordham University, reported by NPR News, highlights the nuanced nature of this debate. She explains that while stoning is mentioned in the Hadiths, the Quran itself does not prescribe stoning as a punishment. Moreover, the stringent conditions required for prosecution, such as four male witnesses of actual penetration, make convictions nearly impossible.

Abdullah Ali, a scholar of Islamic law at Zaytuna College, corroborates this view, in a conversation with NPR News, and emphasises the historical context and the practical challenges of proving such offences. He underscores that stoning served as a deterrent rather than a common practice, aimed at maintaining public morality.

Contemporary Context and Consequences

Recent developments in countries like Iran, Sudan, and Nigeria, where stoning has been endorsed as a punishment, underscore the ongoing relevance of this debate. Reports from Afghan news outlets suggest that stonings have occurred under Taliban rule, raising concerns among activists about the erosion of women's rights and the absence of a functioning judiciary system.

Najia Mahmodi, a former chief prosecutor in Afghanistan, reported by NPR News, laments the collapse of the legal framework, leaving women vulnerable to discriminatory interpretations of Islamic law. She stresses the need for Muslim countries to denounce the Taliban's rhetoric as an affront to Islamic principles.

Human Rights Implications

Samira Hamidi from Amnesty International, in a conversation with NPR News, highlights the impact of the Taliban's policies on women's access to justice and protection from violence. With the dismantling of key institutions and services, Afghan women are left without recourse in the face of false accusations and gender-based violence.

International condemnation of the Taliban's approach underscores the broader human rights implications of their actions. Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General, calls for the revocation of restrictive edicts and the promotion of equal rights for women.

Global Condemnation and Calls for Equality

A joint statement issued by 11 of the 15  council members last month unequivocally condemned the Taliban's ongoing repression of women and girls since their ascension to power in August 2021. It emphasized the importance of ensuring their equal participation across all spheres of public, political, economic, cultural, and social life. The statement highlights the pressing need for inclusivity, especially at decision-making levels, as the international community seeks to engage with Afghanistan's de facto rulers.

The statement, conveyed by Guyana’s U.N. Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, was delivered amid a closed council meeting convened to discuss U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ recent engagement with over 25 envoys to Afghanistan in Doha, Qatar. Of particular note was the participation of Afghan civil society representatives, including women, in the Doha discussions—a development welcomed by the council members.

Despite the Taliban's conspicuous absence from the Doha meetings, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo engaged with Taliban officials based in Doha, signalling a diplomatic effort to bridge the gap and facilitate dialogue. DiCarlo further briefed council members during Monday’s closed session, highlighting the importance of sustained diplomatic efforts to address the pressing concerns regarding women's rights in Afghanistan.

Quest for International Recognition and Sustainable Peace

The Taliban's refusal to attend the Doha meeting highlights the complexities surrounding efforts to integrate Afghanistan into the international community. Secretary-General Guterres, addressing reporters in Doha, stressed the necessity of a comprehensive approach to address the multifaceted challenges facing Afghanistan.

He emphasized the critical importance of inclusive governance, recognizing the diverse ethnic composition of Afghan society and the imperative of respecting human rights, particularly those of women and girls. Guterres also highlighted the interplay between Afghanistan's international recognition and its internal inclusivity, emphasizing the need for concerted efforts to break the current impasse.

Breaking the 'Deadlock'

Guterres acknowledged the current deadlock, emphasizing the need to simultaneously address the concerns of the international community and the Taliban. The meeting with envoys aimed to develop a roadmap, ensuring inclusivity, diverse representation in Afghan institutions, and the paramount importance of respecting human rights, particularly those of women and girls.

The 11 council nations supporting this statement—Ecuador, France, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States—emphasized that sustainable peace in Afghanistan hinges on an inclusive political process and the protection of human rights, with a specific focus on women and girls. However, four Security Council nations—Russia, China, Mozambique, and Algeria—did not endorse the statement, highlighting existing divisions within the international community on how to address the situation in Afghanistan.

Secretary-General's 'Endgame' Roadmap

Secretary-General Guterres, speaking after the Doha conference, outlined a comprehensive approach to integrating Afghanistan into the international community. Stressing the need for Afghanistan not to be a breeding ground for terrorism, he emphasized the importance of diverse representation in Afghan institutions and the utmost respect for human rights, particularly the rights of women and girls. 

A Security Council resolution has asked Guterres to appoint a U.N. envoy after consultations with all parties involved, including member states and the Taliban. This envoy would not only have a coordinating role in ongoing engagements but would also work effectively with the de facto authorities of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan finds itself with a government not internationally recognized, while the international community perceives a lack of improvement in inclusivity and a deterioration in the situation of women and girls' rights. Despite these challenges, Guterres pointed out a "total consensus" among participants, including representatives from the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The consensus revolves around key requirements for Afghanistan to be integrated into the global community.

Guterres also outlined the essential components of this "endgame." Firstly, Afghanistan must cease being a "hotbed for terrorist activities" that spill over into other countries. Secondly, the country's institutions must be inclusive, reflecting the diversity of its population, which includes Uzbeks, Tajiks, Pashtuns, and Hazaras. Finally, a cornerstone of this integration is the unyielding respect for human rights, particularly those of women and girls, describing it as a delicate balance akin to a "chicken and the egg" scenario.

The united front presented by the majority of the Security Council members signifies a collective determination to address the complex challenges facing the nation and expects tangible progress towards a more inclusive and just Afghanistan.