Qatar urged Taliban to respect women's rights: Foreign Minister

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani speaking at a joint press conference with his French counterpart in Doha.

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said on Monday Qatar has urged Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers to respect women's rights and that it was still too early to consider recognising their government. HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs was speaking in a joint press conference with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Doha. Le Drian said dozens of French nationals are still in Afghanistan and Paris is working with Qatar to evacuate them. "We have always urged the Taliban and the government, we reiterated that yesterday, that the Afghan people's gains must be protected including women's rights and their role in the development of Afghanistan," HE Sheikh Mohamed said. During their previous 1996-2001 rule, the Taliban severely restricted women's rights, including banning them from education and work, and there are fears they may do so again following their return to power last month with the collpase of the Western-backed government and the withdrawal of foreign forces.