Meryl Streep criticized the Taliban’s repression of women in Afghanistan, stating that cats have more freedom than women there. Speaking at the UN General Assembly, she highlighted the severe restrictions imposed on women, including bans on public speaking, direct eye contact with men, and access to education and public spaces. A Taliban spokesman claimed they respect women and would not compare them to cats. Streep emphasized the extreme limitations on Afghan women’s rights, contrasting their situation with the freedoms enjoyed by animals.