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tv   The Papers  BBC News  August 17, 2021 10:30pm-10:46pm BST

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this is bbc news, i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines... in their first news conference since taking control in afghanistan, taliban leaders have said they won't let afghanistan be used as a haven for terrorists. they also insisted women could be actively involved in society, as long as they complied with sharia law. it comes as the taliban's political leader, mullah abdul ghani baradar, is reported to have flown in from qatar to the south—eastern city of kandahar, near the border with pakistan. on the ground the taliban gave a public declaration of a nationwide amnesty with a call for government workers to return to their jobs without fear. in other news, rescue work following the deadly earthquake which struck haiti on saturday has been hampered by heavy rains brought by tropical storm grace. more than 1,900 people are now known to have died in the seven point 2—magnitude quake.
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in the last few minutes, there's been more breaking news on afghanistan from the government here — the prime minister, borisjohnson, has spoken to the us president, joe biden, about the situation in afghanistan. also, the uk government hasjust announced further details of a bespoke resettlement scheme for afghan refugees. our political correspondent nick eardley joins me — first of all. so what details do we know about the promised new resettlement scheme for afghan refugees? that was promised by dominic raab, wasn't a? . r' that was promised by dominic raab, wasn't a? . w , , wasn't a? that skiing is being introduced — wasn't a? that skiing is being introduced by _ wasn't a? that skiing is being introduced by the _ wasn't a? that skiing is being introduced by the uk - wasn't a? that skiing is being - introduced by the uk government to allow up to 20,000 afghan refugees to come to the uk and reset all over the next few years. 5000 in the
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first year, the rest expected to come after that. now, first year, the rest expected to come afterthat. now, ministers first year, the rest expected to come after that. now, ministers here say it will focus on what they are calling the most at risk in particular women and girls. it is different from the scheme which had already been announced for afghans who worked with uk forces over the past 20 years and their families. expect about 5000 people to settle and that you can do that scheme, but this is 20,000 people all separate from that. and we don't have details about how it will be funded just yet, but we do know that the government plans to work with local councils and involves governments to figure out the best place as far refugees to be housed over the next few years. the message from government tonight is that they believe they scheme, which is modelled on the one that was used during the syrian war and solemn —— ultimately sub 20,000 people settle in the uk around five years,
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ministry seeing the new scheme for afghanistan will ultimately save lives, and we have seen those pictures over the last few days that show how desperate some people are to leave kabul and to leave the country as a whole, and the hope in the uk government is that this will be part of a wider humanitarian efforts, yes, money for humanitarian aid, but also countries who have been involved in afghanistan over the last 20 years pledging to take significant numbers of refugees. i significant numbers of refugees. i suppose that will come up in that emergency sitting of parliament tomorrow, and also conversation had between mr biden and mrjohnson. yes, so we think that borisjohnson may have been the first leader that president biden has spoken to since the situation in afghanistan deteriorated. they had a photo call tonight were number ten said the prime ministers suggests the importance of not losing the gains made in afghanistan over the last 20
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years and continuing to support people there and protecting the west against any emerging threat from terrorism. these calls are normally quite cordial, but i think there has been some surprise in the west at that pace of the us withdrawal, we know for example that the uk government wanted to keep some troops in afghanistan but couldn't muster support for that amongst other nato countries because of the lack of us infrastructure. joe biden, the president, has signed up to a g7 meeting, a virtual meeting of leaders in the next few days which will discuss some of the humanitarian and refugee plans, bites, you know, we are getting details of that scheme in the uk tonight. as you see, the parliament is being recalled tomorrow to discuss the situation. i've got to say some of the reaction we have had from opposition parties in the uk so
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far suggest that some think that's what the government here is announcing tonight doesn't necessarily go far enough i'll stop both to labour and the snp and the broader democrats have said it falls short of what is needed in this time of crisis. i'd expect that to come up of crisis. i'd expect that to come up in the house of commons tomorrow. also, those wider questions about why the uk and other nato countries were so surprised by the speed of the taliban in advance. uk. were so surprised by the speed of the taliban in advance.— the taliban in advance. 0k, nick, ou will the taliban in advance. 0k, nick, you will be _ the taliban in advance. 0k, nick, you will be busy _ the taliban in advance. 0k, nick, you will be busy tomorrow. - the taliban in advance. 0k, nick, | you will be busy tomorrow. thank the taliban in advance. 0k, nick, - you will be busy tomorrow. thank you very much indeed. now it's time for the papers. hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are author and journalist yasmin alibhai—brown and henry zeffman, chief political correspondent at the times.
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that evening to you both. a quick look through some of those friends pages. the telegraph leads with priti patel calling on european countries to offer sanctuary to afghan�*s fleeing the taliban. the home secretary has said britain will grant asylum to 20,000 refugees. similarly, the guardian leads with the headline that the uk is set to take in 20,000 refugees from afghanistan. women, children and religious minorities are set to be proritised. 0n the front page of the financial times, the big headline is that the taliban vows to respect women's rights "within islam's framework". this was one of the things mentioned during the taliban's first press conference since it took the capital kabul. "true courage"— that's the big headline on the front of the metro. women in afghanistan have been holding up handwritten messages in the streets saying they want their rights and no force can ignore and stifle women.
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and on the front of the daily mail, deliverance and despair is the striking headline. let's begin our chats. we will start with the eye. hello to you both henry and yasmin. yasmin i wonder if you could start aside. "trust us." that's from the town band. i don't know if he saw the press conference today. do you trust them? i don't trust them _ today. do you trust them? i don't trust them at _ today. do you trust them? i don't trust them at all. _ today. do you trust them? i don't trust them at all. but _ today. do you trust them? i don't trust them at all. but they - today. do you trust them? i don't| trust them at all. but they clearly, you know, this has been a long game for them. you know, this has been a long game forthem. long you know, this has been a long game for them. long ago, you know, this has been a long game forthem. long ago, rememberthey said in the west have watches, we have time. so they have been preparing this for a very long time, and liked the first time they were in power in afghanistan, they have learned some smooth scales, but the
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i newspaper has some very good reports on how already the purges have begun. they are getting into homes of activists. i don't trust them at all. and today's column, the column was both incredibly panicked and worried and angry about what was going to happen to the girls and women in that country now. irate women in that country now. we will come to women's _ women in that country now. we will come to women's rights _ women in that country now. we will come to women's rights and - come to women's rights and their future in a moment. henry, the press conference, what went through your mind as he listened and watched it? well to my suppose a bewildering disconnect between the sort of rhetoric — disconnect between the sort of rhetoric and what we all know is both _ rhetoric and what we all know is both already the reality and is going — both already the reality and is going to — both already the reality and is going to become an even more stark reality— going to become an even more stark reality in_ going to become an even more stark reality in the coming days, weeks, months _ reality in the coming days, weeks, months and — reality in the coming days, weeks, months and years. you know, as yasmin— months and years. you know, as yasmin said. _ months and years. you know, as yasmin said, clearly that taliban have _ yasmin said, clearly that taliban have learned some public relation
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tricks _ have learned some public relation tricks in _ have learned some public relation tricks in the last few years in the way that— tricks in the last few years in the way that they had not just at this press _ way that they had not just at this press conference, but in the last few days — press conference, but in the last few days i've had spokespeople available on so many different outlets — available on so many different outlets insisting that people have very little to fear from them, but you know. — very little to fear from them, but you know, any reporting from the country _ you know, any reporting from the country and — you know, any reporting from the country and the testimonies of brave afghans _ country and the testimonies of brave afghans themselves makes very clear that that _ afghans themselves makes very clear that that is _ afghans themselves makes very clear that that is not the case. i think particularly outside kabul, because this sort— particularly outside kabul, because this sort of— particularly outside kabul, because this sort of what media is left in country— this sort of what media is left in country in — this sort of what media is left in country in kabul, in other parts of the country. — country in kabul, in other parts of the country, by the sense of things, that taliban — the country, by the sense of things, that taliban is already starting to id that taliban is already starting to go into— that taliban is already starting to go into people's homes, to crack down _ go into people's homes, to crack down from — go into people's homes, to crack down from it to enact their oppression, and that is clearly what is going _ oppression, and that is clearly what is going to — oppression, and that is clearly what is going to happen over the coming time, _ is going to happen over the coming time, whatever a slick spokesperson says that _ time, whatever a slick spokesperson says that a _ time, whatever a slick spokesperson says that a press conference. their defence of — says that a press conference. their defence of those _ says that a press conference. their defence of those actions _ says that a press conference. tie: " defence of those actions that have been taking place i that these are thugs, and it's nothing to do with the true ideology of that taliban,
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and they are working on that and will investigate it, i think was the line, but they weren't aware of these incidents. the ft, let's turn to the ft, yasmin. that taliban bows to the ft, yasmin. that taliban bows to respect women's rights within islam's framework. how do you read into this? because i thought afghanistan was, is an islamic country. afghanistan was, is an islamic count . . . afghanistan was, is an islamic count . , ., ., , ., ., ., country. yes, and that sharia law, remember. _ country. yes, and that sharia law, remember, they _ country. yes, and that sharia law, remember, they are _ country. yes, and that sharia law, remember, they are not - country. yes, and that sharia law, remember, they are not part - country. yes, and that sharia law, remember, they are not part of. country. yes, and that sharia law, | remember, they are not part of the koran. they were bitten in the decades and centuries by men in order to suppress women, and this is true of all religions. all religions find fantastic words of god to suppress women, and i don't even understand. you see, this is the whole thing, what do they mean by islamic? i am at shira muslim and i come from a minority which is going
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to be horrendously persecuted because we, i belong to and have already been persecuted before. the islam we follow, whose book are they going to follow? and women's rights, if they really mean that koranic rights, women do have extraordinary rights, women do have extraordinary rights, not enough, there are still some tea terrible bets an edge, but their right to a failing marriage, their right to a failing marriage, the right to divorce, to have our own money, to make independent choices, they are not going to give women that. there islamic code book is very different from mine and that of many other people. so is very different from mine and that of many other people.— of many other people. so why are they- -- are _ of many other people. so why are they... are they _ of many other people. so why are they... are they meeting - of many other people. so why are | they... are they meeting different words? as a non—muslim and i think for many people around the world who are trying to understand this, when you hear within chari ally, that's the islamic law, so when you hear within the limits of chari ally, we
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are left thinking what is that like? what do the words say —— macro to if what do the words say —— macro to f you go to saudi arabia, their interpretation of sharia, i think people must remember this, where man—made laws, and i mean man made, 0k? man—made laws, and i mean man made, ok? so they create these codification in iran. there is a separate set of notifications. and almost kind of hoodwink the population that this is the word of god. god did not want young children hangs because they were activists. it's just a way ofjustifying what they are going to be doing. i think, you know, iam they are going to be doing. i think, you know, i am so worried that people are already beginning to say, oh, well, they are not going to be that nasty after all. they say they are going to be really nice. beware of their kind words. you know? it's
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dark days that lie ahead, dark days. henry, we are still talking about women's rights, but let's turn to the front page of the metro and what many will see as incredible bravery for some afghan women to take to the streets. . . for some afghan women to take to the streets. , , . ., ., for some afghan women to take to the streets. , , _, ., , , ., streets. yes, it is courage beyond imagination _ streets. yes, it is courage beyond imagination for _ streets. yes, it is courage beyond imagination for many _ streets. yes, it is courage beyond imagination for many of— streets. yes, it is courage beyond imagination for many of us, - imagination for many of us, certainly me.— imagination for many of us, certainly me. and it is photos that i think we will _ certainly me. and it is photos that i think we will see _ certainly me. and it is photos that i think we will see lots _ certainly me. and it is photos that i think we will see lots of - certainly me. and it is photos that i think we will see lots of bass - certainly me. and it is photos that i think we will see lots of bass are j i think we will see lots of bass are the same — i think we will see lots of bass are the same time and time again as we hear more _ the same time and time again as we hear more about what will inevitably be that _ hear more about what will inevitably be that taliban's repression of women — be that taliban's repression of women again whatever they are saying now. women again whatever they are saying now and. _ women again whatever they are saying now. and, you know,... women activists— now. and, you know,... women activists in— now. and, you know,... women activists in afghanistan saying that they are _ activists in afghanistan saying that they are going to stay, they are going _ they are going to stay, they are going to — they are going to stay, they are going to fight for their rights.
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they— going to fight for their rights. they are _ going to fight for their rights. they are going to stand up for their principles. — they are going to stand up for their principles, which is incredibly brave — principles, which is incredibly brave it _ principles, which is incredibly brave. it certainly, we will come on to talk— brave. it certainly, we will come on to talk about — brave. it certainly, we will come on to talk about the refugee to brave. it certainly, we will come on to talk about the refugee— to talk about the refugee to this, but to me you — to talk about the refugee to this, but to me you know, _ to talk about the refugee to this, but to me you know, certainly i to talk about the refugee to this, i but to me you know, certainly some women will entirely understandably not to be so brave and want to get out of afghanistan and try to come to a country where they will be treated with more respect than they will be treated by the taliban. this photo is incredibly powerful, but the youth and other countries also need to open their door is to the people who want to get out rather than stand in the face of that taliban protesting that's going to be something we will talk about in the coming days i'm sure. i want to net in the coming days i'm sure. i want to get your — in the coming days i'm sure. i want to get your final— in the coming days i'm sure. i want to get your final thoughts - in the coming days i'm sure. i want to get your final thoughts on this, | to get your final thoughts on this, henry. in this press conference, we heard about women working in the media. it was rather confusing. again, you can wear, but according to sharia law. you are not allowed to sharia law. you are not allowed to talk or broadcast anything against the nation. but we want you to criticise us because we want to
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learn our mistakes. as a journalist, what did you make a batch? weill. what did you make a batch? well, arain, what did you make a batch? well, again. time _ what did you make a batch? well, again, time will— what did you make a batch? well, again, time will tell. _ what did you make a batch? well, again, time will tell. i— what did you make a batch? well, again, time will tell. i think - what did you make a batch? well, again, time will tell. i think one . again, time will tell. i think one thing _ again, time will tell. i think one thing that— again, time will tell. i think one thing that was striking that press conference was that they took questions, in fact you may think the question— questions, in fact you may think the question to — questions, in fact you may think the question to that answer came from a female _ question to that answer came from a female journalist, a female afghan journalist — female journalist, a female afghan journalist. but, you know, again, it is one _ journalist. but, you know, again, it is one thing — journalist. but, you know, again, it is one thing to say such words in a press _ is one thing to say such words in a press conference when they are is still a _ press conference when they are is still a relatively large military presence from other countries in afghanistan, and it will be another thing _ afghanistan, and it will be another thing for— afghanistan, and it will be another thing for them to accept to those words _ thing for them to accept to those words and — thing for them to accept to those words and the next few months, not to mention — words and the next few months, not to mention years, and i think very few analysts of the country that i have _ few analysts of the country that i have heard from believe that this really _ have heard from believe that this really is — have heard from believe that this really is taliban to point out. it isjust— really is taliban to point out. it isjust as — really is taliban to point out. it isjust as slick really is taliban to point out. it is just as slick our version of what we know— is just as slick our version of what we know of— is just as slick our version of what we know of that taliban. you take both of those _ we know of that taliban. you take both of those boxes, _ we know of that taliban. you take both of those boxes, journalist. we know of that taliban. you take l both of those boxes, journalist and female. what did you make of that? i agree with henry. they have just got
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better at slick delivery. at one of

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