Afghanistan: Women seek right to return to govt jobs

Speaking to Tolo News, women urged the Taliban to pave the way for female employees to return to work.

Shugufa Najibi, who has her Master's degree in law from India and worked in Afghanistan's parliament for around ten years, said: “When I went to the office, they stopped me. I asked 'Why? Your officials say women can work?' When I left, they told me through my colleagues to not come anymore.”

Based on the numbers of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction ( SIGAR ), more than 5,000 women were working in the military sector in Afghanistan.

Hanifa Hamdar, a former police officer at Kabul Police District 8, said she is worried about her future. Hanifa said: “I am a widow. I have four children. How should find food if I don’t go to work?”

The Taliban have only allowed women in the health and education sectors to restart work. Lima Mohammadi, a doctor at a government hospital, said that she has begun work even though she has not received wages for the last three months.

She said: “There is need for women in the hospital and elsewhere. As men work, women should work as well.”

Fawzia Koofi, a former Member of Parliament, said: “I talked with the Taliban in 2019. They told me that there is no problem that a woman becomes minister or even prime minister or takes some other high positions. Why did they say it like this? I think they said it to show a moderate face to the world and get international legitimacy. This is very disappointing."

Tolo News could not get comments from the Taliban on the issue, but the group said earlier that women should remain at their homes until the complete activation of government organizations.

According to the numbers of the Reform and Civil Service Commission, about 120,000 women were working in civil organizations in the previous government. It is still unclear how the new Taliban government will decide on women working.