KABUL (SW) – A number of female religious scholars and civil activists held a joint meeting in Kabul today, calling for women participation in the forthcoming Loya Jirga i.e. grand consultative meeting proposed by the Islamic Emirate.
A number of civil society activists say that women should be given the opportunity to participate in the forthcoming meeting and that they should be allowed to express their demands.
Khadija Ayoubi, a civic activist, said the reopening of girls’ schools above the sixth grade and the presence of women in the political, social and cultural spheres are issues that women want to discuss.
“Since important issues and national issues are going to be discussed in this jirga and women are the half of the society, they should be included in decision makings. Without the presence and participation of women, the decisions that will be made for the people of Afghanistan, especially the women of Afghanistan, will not be fair.”
Sarah Ahmadi, another civil activist, said that although the meeting was scheduled to take place in the coming days, the Islamic Emirate authorities had not invited women to attend the crucial meeting.
According to her, the Islamic Emirate does not accept women and during the time it has ruled the country, it has been trying to eliminate women in various educational, social and political sectors.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zia Anwari, a religious scholar, asked the Islamic Emirate to allow women, as half of society, to attend the meeting.
ENDS
