MADRID, 18 (EUROPA PRESS)
“The OIC is going to continue with its talks with the Taliban, in coordination with the International Academy of Islamic Jurisprudence, to talk about education and work,” announced the secretary general of the group — which brings together 57 member states, including superpowers. countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia — Husein Ibrahim Taha, at the end this past Friday of the summit of foreign ministers held in Mauritania.
In response, Taliban Deputy Information Minister Zabiullah Mujahid has reiterated the fundamentalist movement’s usual response: a vague commitment to lift the veto. “We have to solve our problems in the field of education. We are making efforts but it will take time,” reports the Tolo News chain.
The Taliban Ministry of the Interior, which is led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, also vowed to do something about the ban, insisting that the educational ban, especially girls’ access to secondary education, “is not permanent”, before insisting that the international pressure in this regard only achieves that “the entire region loses out”.
The United States is not part of the OIC but has been represented in Mauritania by the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya, who has insisted that the current educational situation in Afghanistan is “unacceptable” and asked participating states to make an exercise in unity to approve a joint resolution against the Taliban veto within the United Nations General Assembly.
“It is especially important that this message comes directly from the OIC and its member states, given the Taliban’s attempt to justify these restrictions in the name of Islam. We urge everyone to join this effort,” he asked.