In a contentious move, Afghanistan's Taliban government has declared its non-recognition of three female athletes slated to represent the nation at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
The decision underscores the ongoing struggle over women's rights in the war-torn country since the Taliban's resurgence to power in 2021.
Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the Taliban's sports directorate, asserted that only the male athletes from Afghanistan would be acknowledged by the government. "Currently, in Afghanistan girls' sports have been stopped," Mashwani lamented in a statement to AFP, questioning the inclusion of female athletes when such sports are not actively pursued within the nation.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), however, emphasized that it had not consulted Taliban officials regarding the Afghan team selection. The committee's spokesperson, Mark Adams, reiterated that Afghanistan's exiled national Olympic committee, not the Taliban, remains the sole entity handling the team's preparation and participation.
The Afghan team comprises six athletes in total, with three women and three men. Notably, all female athletes and two male counterparts reside outside Afghanistan due to the challenging circumstances within the country. The athletes will compete in judo, athletics, and cycling, proudly representing Afghanistan under the flag of the previous Western-backed government.
Under Taliban rule, stringent restrictions have been imposed on women's participation in sports, education, and public life, described by the United Nations as "gender apartheid."
