Hollywood icon Meryl Streep delivered a powerful speech at the United Nations on Monday, highlighting the severe restrictions faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule, stating, “A female cat has more freedom in Afghanistan than a woman.” Streep called on world leaders to prioritize the rights of Afghan women and girls, describing the situation as a “cautionary tale for the rest of the world.”
Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces, Afghan women have faced harsh crackdowns on their rights. The group has barred most girls from attending high school and women from universities, closed beauty salons, and restricted women’s travel without a male guardian.
Streep painted a stark picture of life in Kabul, remarking, “A cat may sit on her front stoop and feel the sun on her face. A squirrel has more rights than a girl in Afghanistan today because public parks have been closed to women and girls.” She added, “A bird may sing in Kabul, but a girl or woman may not in public.”
The Taliban claims it respects women’s rights under their interpretation of Islamic law. Last month, they codified a strict set of “morality laws” based on a 2022 decree from their supreme leader, further tightening restrictions on women’s public presence and behaviour.
Streep’s comments came alongside those of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned that Afghanistan will never achieve its full potential on the global stage without the participation of educated women. He emphasized that women’s inclusion in education and leadership is essential for the country’s future.
Following Streep’s remarks, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen dismissed her comparison, stating, “We highly respect women in their roles as mothers, sisters, and wives, but we would never compare them to cats.” He noted that some women continue to work in government ministries and as entrepreneurs but defended the restrictions as consistent with Islamic Sharia law. While the Taliban has pledged reforms to the education system, no significant progress has been observed to date.
(With Reuters inputs)
