Taliban fighters break into laughter when asked about women politicians

KABUL: A video of a journalist's interaction with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan is going viral on social media. The Taliban took control of the country after Ashraf Ghani stepped down as president and fled Kabul on Sunday.

In the video, the journalist can be heard asking the fighters whether the Taliban regime would respect women's rights in Afghanistan. The fighters responded by saying that women's rights will be upheld as per Islamic law (Sharia).

She then asked them whether Afghan people will be allowed to vote women politicians to power. Without responding to her question, the Taliban fighters break into laughter and ask the journalist to stop filming.

One Taliban fighter can be heard saying, "It [the journalist's question] made me laugh." Taliban collapseed with laughter as journalist asks if they would be willing to accept democratic governance that voted in female politicians - and then tells camera to stop filming. "It made me laugh" he says.

The international community, including the UN Security Council, has expressed reservations about women's rights being upheld in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

In their first press conference in Kabul on Tuesday, the Taliban said women's rights will be respected as per the framework of Islamic law (Sharia). Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said, "Women are going to be very active in society, but within the framework of Islam."

However, the Taliban's assurances have done little to assuage the fears of women and girls living in Afghanistan. Zarifa Ghafari (27), Afghanistan's first woman mayor, told media outlets that she is "waiting for the Taliban to come for people like her and kill her".

"I am sitting here waiting for them to come. There is no one to help me or my family. I am just sitting with them and my husband. And they will come for people like me and kill me. I cannot leave my family. And anyway, where would I go?" Ghafari said. (Agencies)

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