By Ben Kerrigan-
The Taliban’s treatment of women and girls should be declared a crime against humanity, Gordon Brown has said.
It comes as the two-year anniversary approaches of the fall of Kabul and the return of Taliban rule following the withdrawal of Western troops.
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Mr Brown, who is the UN special envoy on global education, told the BBC that Taliban rulers in Afghanistan are carrying out some of the worst human rights abuses anywhere in the world.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 Today’s Nick Robinson, Mr Brown, now the UN’s special envoy for global education, said: “They’ve been excluded from education, excluded from employment, excluded from visiting public places.
“All these bans are a form of discrimination. It’s probably the most heinous, most vicious, most comprehensive abuse of human rights in place around the world today.”
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He said some described the system as a form “gender apartheid”, and that it should be considered a crime against humanity.
“It’s right then for the International Criminal Court, which has responsibility for dealing with crimes against humanity, to both investigate and prosecute those responsible.”
The ex-Labour prime minister, who led the UK from 2007 to 2010, suggested the pressure of a potential prosecution could force the Taliban to reconsider, and said he was shocked by there was “so little international pressure on the regime”.
Mr Brown also called for UK sanctions against the Taliban leadership, and leaders and clerics from Muslim-majority countries to help persuade them that “Islam is a religion that values women and girls
It’s probably the most heinous, the most vicious, the most comprehensive abuse of human rights that’s taking place around the world today
The Taliban takeover has prompted international concern about the regime’s treatment of women and a crackdown on educational opportunities.
The Labour former prime minister, who was in office from 2007 to 2010, wants the UK to issue tough sanctions on those responsible for overseeing the restrictions on women.
“I think the evidence is absolutely overwhelming,” Mr Brown said.
“Complete discrimination against women, banned from university banned from schools, banned from public places, banned from any activities where they’re walking on their own.
“Required to wear a particular dress – not even just the normal dress of a Muslim but very particular requirements on dress – and all those being prosecuted, including the leader of the NGOs, who are forcing the pressure for girls’ rights, now in prison.
“So this is systematic brutalization of women and girls.”
Under Taliban rules, girls have been banned from attending secondary school and women excluded from university.
When the Taliban seized power in August 2021 as US and Nato forces were pulling out of Afghanistan, the group’s leaders initially promised a more moderate rule than during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.
But there has been growing international criticism as a severe interpretation of Islamic law – known as Sharia – has been imposed on women and girls.
Mr Brown said: “It’s probably the most heinous, the most vicious, the most comprehensive abuse of human rights that’s taking place around the world today.
“And it is systematically being inflicted on millions of girls and women across Afghanistan.
“And that’s why the United Nations and others are calling it gender discrimination. Some call it gender apartheid.
“That’s why it’s seen as a crime against humanity, and it’s right, then, for the International Criminal Court, which has responsibility for dealing with crimes against humanity, to both investigate and to prosecute those people who have been responsible for this crime.”
“What we need is a prosecution. But we also need sanctions.
“I’m urging the UK Government to sanction the individuals responsible for this policy. The European Union has done it, but America and others can do it.”
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