Taliban calls gender discrimination accusations absurd as countries seek accountability for women's rights violations

The Taliban dismissed accusations of gender discrimination as "absurd" on Thursday. This response comes as Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands prepare to take legal action against the Taliban for violating international laws regarding women's rights. The four countries announced their initiative during the UN General Assembly, aiming to hold the Taliban accountable for their treatment of women and girls. They claim Afghanistan is failing to meet its obligations under a UN convention on women's rights. Despite the Taliban's promises of moderate governance since 2021, they have restricted women's education, employment, and public presence. The Taliban's deputy spokesman rejected the criticism, asserting that human rights are protected in Afghanistan.