KABUL (SW) – A number of female defense attorneys say that not being allowed to work for the last one and a half years has caused them to suffer from economic problems and mental illnesses.
Zohra Azizi, a defense lawyer, told Salam Watandar that with the implementation of the Islamic Emirate and the imposition of restrictions, she has been facing economic, mental and psychological problems.
Similarly, Zaheda Kohestani, another defense lawyer who has become housebound after the implementation of the Islamic Emirate, complained of poverty and said that she had to sell her household goods in order to survive. “We sold our property and moved on with our lives. My husband and I are unemployed and have no income”.
At the same time, Soban Misbah, the former deputy of the lawyers’ union, said that the presence of female defense lawyers plays a constructive role in advancing women’s cases in order to ensure justice. “The defense lawyer plays a very important role in providing justice, rule of law and access to the fundamental rights of citizens.”
However, Abdulhamid Jihadyar, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Justice, stressed that the main reason for not renewing the license of female lawyers is the lack of funds and suitable work environment for women. “The work budget has not been favorable. If the ground is provided, it will be extended. This issue is related to the decision of the leadership of the Islamic Emirate.”
With the collapse of the republic, the previous legal structure and mechanism of Afghanistan has also collapsed and women, including lawyers, have been removed from the legal structure of Afghanistan.
It should be mentioned that according to the statistics of the lawyers association, some 1,500 female lawyers had obtained licenses from this association before the collapse of the republic.
ENDS
