[ti:Taliban Promises Women’s Rights under 'Islamic Law'] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]After quickly taking over major Afghan cities [00:03.96]and the national government in the past week, [00:07.48]the Taliban offered promises Tuesday [00:11.28]to rule the country differently than in the past. [00:15.92]In statements to reporters, leaders of the group [00:20.16]offered to respect women's rights, [00:23.76]forgive those who resisted them [00:26.36]and to ensure a secure Afghanistan. [00:31.60]The Taliban comments appear to be an attempt [00:35.76]to position the group as more moderate [00:39.32]than when they imposed extreme rule [00:42.72]in Afghanistan in the late 1990s. [00:46.44]But many Afghans remain fearful of a Taliban-led government [00:51.88]and foreign governments are also worried. [00:55.52]On Monday, thousands of citizens raced [00:59.08]to the airport in the capital, Kabul, [01:02.24]in hopes of fleeing the country a day after the Taliban [01:07.36]seized the capital and took over government headquarters. [01:12.60]U.S. officials said at least seven people died in the chaos. [01:18.60]Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid [01:22.44]held a news conference Tuesday [01:25.00]to answer questions about the group's plans. [01:28.76]Mujahid promised that the Taliban would honor women's rights, [01:33.96]but only within the norms of Islamic law. [01:38.08]He did not provide additional details. [01:42.16]He said the group also wanted private media [01:45.92]to "remain independent," but stressed that reporters [01:50.64]"should not work against national values." [01:55.20]Mujahid added that the Taliban would secure Afghanistan [02:00.80]and offer an "amnesty" across the country for people [02:05.52]who had worked for or supported foreign "occupiers." [02:10.04]If someone offers amnesty to another, [02:13.16]it provides forgiveness without fear of punishment. [02:18.44]The Taliban last held power in Afghanistan in the late 1990s. [02:24.40]Many Afghan people remember the group's rule [02:28.04]as brutal and ultra-conservative. [02:31.08]The Taliban's rule was based on strict Islamic law. [02:37.00]The law included heavy restrictions on women [02:40.68]and extreme punishments such as cutting off body parts [02:46.16]and throwing stones at those who broke rules. [02:50.72]The Taliban was forced out of power by a U.S.-led invasion in 2001. [02:58.20]The group was ousted for providing refuge to Osama bin Laden [03:03.20]and al-Qaida - the extremist group that attacked and killed [03:07.68]3,000 Americans in the terrorist event known as September 11. [03:13.96]Even though the Taliban said it will not go after its enemies, [03:18.52]some people in Kabul said the group had kept lists of people [03:23.48]who helped the former government or countries like the U.S. [03:28.76]A broadcaster in Afghanistan said she was in hiding [03:32.68]because Taliban fighters were looking for journalists. [03:37.44]Enamullah Samangani is a member of the Taliban's cultural commission. [03:44.04]He said the new leadership, which is called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, [03:50.00]wants to give women chances to work and study and work in government. [03:56.40]He repeated, however, that such activities [04:00.16]would only be permitted under "Islamic law" rules [04:04.12]and in keeping with the group's "cultural values." [04:08.92]Samangani did not explain what he meant by "Islamic law." [04:14.80]Rupert Colville is a spokesman for the U.N. Human Rights Commission. [04:20.48]He said the Taliban needs to honor its promises [04:24.56]and that "hard-won advances in human rights" must be defended. [04:30.04]Germany and Sweden said [04:31.96]they would both reduce the amount of money it sends to Afghanistan. [04:37.04]Great Britain, however, said it would increase [04:40.32]financial assistance to help people in need. [04:45.28]Even with flights landing and some taking off at Kabul's airport, [04:49.40]people wondered whether it was safe. [04:52.60]An Afghan official told the Associated Press [04:55.88]that Taliban fighters entered the civilian part of the airport [05:01.08]and fired guns to chase away about 500 people who were there. [05:06.64]The Associated Press reported that talks continued Tuesday [05:11.16]between the Taliban and several Afghan government officials [05:15.48]about the country's future. [05:18.28]The officials included former President Hamid Karzai [05:23.36]and Abdullah Abdullah, who once headed the country's negotiating team. [05:30.00]Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flew out of the country over the weekend [05:35.48]with his vice president and other senior officials. [05:39.92]Officials with knowledge of the latest talks told the AP [05:44.88]the discussions centered on how a Taliban-led government [05:49.20]could work with other groups. [05:51.96]Talks on power-sharing could be complex [05:55.56]because of the changes Afghanistan has experienced [05:58.68]over the past 20 years, the officials said. [06:03.68]I'm Dan Friedell. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM