Taliban prevent 100 Afghan women from boarding plane to Dubai

In a video posted on social media, UAE billionaire says, his organization had arranged education of 100 Afghan women in Dubai 

DUBAI, UAE – Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have prevented some 100 women from boarding a plane to Dubai.

They had been sponsored by a UAE billionaire to study in a university.

Khalaf Ahmad al Habtoor, the founding chairman of the Al Habtoor group, said the women were prevented from boarding the plane at Kabul airport even though they had the necessary travel documents and were accompanied by a male supervisor.

In a video posted on social media, Habtoor said his organization had paid for the plane tickets.

Still, the girls were not allowed to board the plane.

“Taliban government refused to allow the girls who were coming to study here – a hundred girls sponsored by me – they refused them to board the plane and already we have paid for the aircraft, we have organized everything for them here, accommodation, education, transportation security,” he said in the video.

 The Taliban did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The incident is the latest example of the Taliban restricting women’s rights.

Since taking control of Afghanistan in August, the Taliban have closed universities and high schools to female students, banned women from traveling alone, and required women to wear face veils in public.

The UAE has been vocal in its criticism of the Taliban’s treatment of women.

In September, the UAE foreign minister called on the Taliban to respect the rights of women and girls.