‘Technical issue’: Afghan minister after women journalists barred from press conference in Delhi

Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Sunday said that women journalists not being invited to his press conference on Friday was “more a technical issue”, reported ANI.

Muttaqi, who is on a week-long visit to India, held another press conference on Sunday, inviting women journalists this time.

“It was on short notice and a short list of journalists was decided, and the participation list that was presented was very specific,” said the Afghan minister while speaking about the row over Friday’s press conference held at the Afghan embassy. “It was more a technical issue.”

He added: “Our colleagues had decided to send an invitation to a specific list of journalists and there was no other intention apart from this.”

On Friday, several journalists said that the decision not to invite women reporters was “unacceptable”.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan has been accused of severe human rights abuses, especially against women and minorities.

In September 2021, the insurgent group banned education for girls above class six, claiming that it did not comply with its interpretation of the Sharia, or Islamic law. This came a month after the group retook control of Afghanistan.

It has also barred women from several jobs and most public spaces.

The Editors Guild of India on Saturday said that it condemns the exclusion of women journalists from the press conference.

“While diplomatic premises...

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