CNN: Afghan Female Athletes Compete Without Official Support

The report cites Marzieh Hamidi, an Afghan taekwondo athlete, who stated that she faced off against the men's team of Afghanistan as a refugee in the 2023 World Taekwondo Championships in Azerbaijan.

Ms. Hamidi told CNN that after being barred from representing her country, her former teammates treated her like a stranger.

She added, "They are a Taliban team for me, not an Afghanistan team," echoing similar accusations that Hamidi made against the Afghanistan cricket team, demanding that Afghan sports teams be prevented from participating in the Olympics.

Marzieh Hamidi emphasized, "The men's cricket team of Afghanistan does not represent the women of this country."

Hamidi further stated, "In Afghanistan, women are not allowed to be women; women do not exist."

She also mentioned that the Taliban have stripped women and girls of their rights under the pretext of Sharia and Islam.

According to the report, Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council's Special Rapporteur, stated, "The Taliban have eliminated women and girls from full participation in society or created conditions that prevent them from participating as full human beings. This situation of discrimination, segregation, and deprivation has institutionalized the denial of humanity for women and girls."

Mr. Bennett also pointed out that "the Taliban currently in power in Afghanistan are very familiar with technology and are much more astute with the media."

He added that the Taliban have a very advanced public relations structure and possibly even surveillance that could influence foreign countries as well. Mr. Bennett warned that if there are no consequences and if no resistance is made against this issue, "all misogynists" everywhere will take notice of this situation.