Clinton Warns Taliban Policies on Women Set a Dangerous Global Precedent
Hillary Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State, described the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan as the “darkest form of extremism against women” in an article published in the esteemed Foreign Affairs magazine. She warned that this approach could become a dangerous model for undermining democracy worldwide.
In her article titled “Women’s Rights Are Democratic Rights,” Clinton emphasized that after the Taliban’s return to power, one of their first actions was to exclude women from social spheres and public life. According to her, restricting women’s education, employment, and social presence not only constitutes widespread human rights violations but also weakens the foundations of political participation and accountability.
She rejected claims by Taliban officials that these restrictions are rooted in Islamic values, adding that in several Muslim-majority countries, Islam and democratic structures coexist and are not in conflict. These remarks come at a time when the Taliban administration consistently describes its policies as being “in accordance with Sharia law.”
Clinton also warned that some authoritarian leaders worldwide are closely watching Afghanistan’s situation to learn how to sustain their power indefinitely by removing half of society from the equation. She believes that weakening women’s rights directly leads to the concentration of power in the hands of a limited group and decreases political accountability.
The American diplomat further referenced the situation of women in Iran, noting reports of arrests and harsh treatment of women opposing mandatory dress codes. She claimed that authoritarian governments, whether secular or religious, share common practices in restricting women’s rights.
Clinton’s statements come a day after the Taliban’s telecommunications minister asserted that male doctors are considered “maharam” (permissible) to treat women and possess full religious authority to examine them. These remarks sparked widespread reactions among women’s rights activists and renewed concerns over the continuation of restrictive policies against women in Afghanistan.
