His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the necessity of respecting women's rights in Afghanistan and urged the Taliban to adopt Qatar as a model for an Islamic state that grants women their full rights and allows for their active participation. During an exclusive interview with CNN regarding Qatar's interest in women's rights to pressure Afghanistan, particularly given that the Taliban's policy toward women for over 30 years has been characterized by neglect and cruelty, he stated that it is unacceptable for Qatar to witness any mistreatment of women in Afghanistan.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs added that it is also intolerable to envision Afghanistan becoming a fertile ground for terrorists and extremist organizations. Regarding women's rights, he noted that Qatar advocates for women's rights and encourages the Taliban to view Qatar as a model for a Muslim country with an Islamic system that respects women's rights. The Deputy Prime Minister elaborated that the number of women participating in the government workforce exceeds that of men, as well as in higher education where women also outnumber men, pointing out that this exemplifies an Islamic country that can advance through women's effective participation.
He affirmed that there is nothing in Islam that prevents women from attending school or compels them to remain at home, stressing that this situation is unacceptable in Qatar. In another part of the interview, the Foreign Minister expressed Qatar's happiness at witnessing progress and restoration returning to the Gulf after the Al-Ula Summit. Regarding the Iranian issue, he stated, "We see that Iran is part of our region, and Iran is our neighbor." He explained that Qatar always encourages all parties and neighbors to engage together to achieve stability in the region through dialogue and attempts to agree at least on security principles that ensure there are no problems that could lead to the deterioration of security conditions.
The Foreign Minister stressed that the Gulf countries have long been a stabilizing factor in the region and must remain so, which can only happen through dialogue.
