UNAMA: Arresting girls and women provides the basis for their oppression at home

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed concern over the intensification of the process of arresting women and girls by the “governing authorities” due to non-observance of the “Islamic Hijab”, saying that this leads women to further isolation.

In a statement that released today (Thursday, Jan 11) by this organization, it is stated that “suppression of women creates a favorable environment for men to carry out oppressive measures at home.”

Based on this announcement, since the first of January until now, a large number of girls and women in Kabul and Nili city, the center of Daikundi, have been arrested or have received warnings.

In the announcement, it was added that in order to free these girls and save them from punishment, “a mahram or male guardian is required to sign a letter that provides a future executive guarantee.”

The UNAMA added that it is investigating allegations of “requesting money in exchange for the release” of detainees, as well as allegations of “mistreatment and illegal detention” and “disproportionate impact of de facto perfromance on religious and ethnic minorities.”

Roza Otenbayeva, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN in Afghanistan said that “forced actions, including physical violence, are humiliating and dangerous for Afghanistan’s women and girls.”

Ms. Otenbaeva added that “arrests put Afghan women at greater risk and destroy public trust because of the great notoriety they bring.”

The arrest of women and girls due to “non-observance of the Islamic Hijab” has met with widespread reactions at the international level. So far, several UN officials, human rights defenders’ organizations, political parties “in exile” and some political figures of the country have condemned this action.

In spite of these reactions, reports from Mazar-e-Sharif indicate that the forces of the “department of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil” forces started arresting girls and women in this city today.

Nevertheless, UNAMA said that it has spoken directly with the “governing authorities” and the “Ministry of Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil” and demanded the immediate release of the detainees. This organization emphasized that due to continution of Afghanistan’s membership in the seven key international human rights documents, UN Security Council Resolution #2681 has asked the de facto government to takes steps for reversing its policies and actions that hinder benifiting of women and girls from human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Meanwhile, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the de facto government, rejected reports about the detention of women and girls and said that a number of women were detained for several hours in the presence of their family members for “advice and punishment” in order to prevent the “promotion دon-observance of Hijab”.