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Islam, Peace and Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

A Conversation with U.S. Special Envoy Rina Amiri and Prominent Islamic Scholars and Leaders

Date: Monday, March 28, 2022 / Time: 11:00am - 12:15pm EDT

Center: Asia Center

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Since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have introduced new policies and regulations based on their own interpretation of Islam and Sharia — many of which have placed restrictions on women’s rights. In response, several groups of Afghan women activists have launched protests and demonstrations in Kabul despite violent repression, assault and, in some cases, unjust detention by the Taliban. And numerous Islamic scholars have noted that women in many Muslim-majority countries are active participants in political, economic and social spaces, raising questions about the long-term impact that the Taliban’s treatment of women will have on Afghanistan and on the reputation of Islam worldwide.   

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Dari

USIP held a conversation examining the differences between Taliban views and practices and those of other Muslim-majority nations. The Institute hosted Grand Imam of Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al Tayeb, U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights Rina Amiri, Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Her Excellency Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno Marsudi, Afghan Islamic scholar Fatima Gailani, and U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Deborah Lyons to discuss the situation facing Afghan women and girls and the protection of their rights from an Islamic perspective.

Take part in the conversation on Twitter with #IslamWomenPeace.

Speakers

Kathleen Kuehnast, welcoming remarks
Director, Gender Policy and Strategy, U.S. Institute of Peace

Sheikh Ahmed al Tayeb
Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Al Azhar

Rina Amiri
U.S. Special Envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights

Her Excellency, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani
Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations

Fatima Gailani
Afghan Political Leader and Islamic Scholar 

Retno Marsudi
Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Republic of Indonesia

Ambassador Deborah Lyons
U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Head of UNAMA

Palwasha Kakar, moderator
Acting Director, Religion and Inclusive Societies, U.S. Institute of Peace

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