U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
U.S. Intelligence Briefly Curtailed Information Sharing With Israel Amid Gaza War Concerns 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
One of the reforms being asked of the Taliban by the international community is equal rights for women and girls in Afghanistan. In a recent announcement, the insurgent group has declared a ban on forcing women to go into a marriage.
Al Jazeera reports that the Taliban’s reclusive leader Hibatullah Akhunzada issued a decree banning forced marriage for women in Afghanistan. The decree was announced last week by the group’s chief, who is believed to be in Kandahar. The insurgent group said regarding the ban that women should not be considered “property” and must consent to be married.
Both men and women should be equal, said the decree, and that “no one can force women to marry by coercion or pressure.” While the decree did not mention a minimum age limit to marry, they noted that widows will now be allowed to remarry 17 weeks after their husband’s death, after which she is free to choose her husband. This is a break from a longtime tribal tradition of a widow marrying one of her husband’s brothers or relatives after his death.
The Taliban’s leaders have ordered the Afghan courts to treat women fairly, especially widows who are seeking inheritance as next of kin. The insurgent group has also asked its government ministers to spread awareness of women’s rights in the country. This marks a significant step forward regarding women’s and girls’ rights in Afghanistan.
It remains to be seen if this step also extends to the aspects of education and work.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s foreign minister reiterated the nation’s stance of continuing to work with the insurgent group. In a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said that Qatar would work with Turkey and Taliban officials in making sure that Afghanistan’s international airport in Kabul remains operational.
Both ministers met as part of the annual Qatar-Turkey Strategic Dialogue.
Cavusoglu said that Turkey is looking to work towards “peace and stability” in Afghanistan, urging the international community to engage with the insurgent group and calling on them to “differentiate” the humanitarian and the political side to the situation. Cavusoglu added that Turkey is cooperating with Qatar to provide humanitarian aid to Afghanistan.
