Women in Afghanistan

Author: Jena

After 20 years of war, the U.S. has retreated, the Afghan Prime Minister has fled, and the Taliban have taken over Afghanistan. Since the disastrous event of 9/11, thousands have died, and millions are displaced. Out of these, approximately 50% are female.

What are the Taliban doing?

TW//Violence, murder, child exploitation, forced marriage

At this very moment, millions of women are facing threats of domestic violence, abuse and exploitation.

Figure 1: Women in Afghanistan supporting a peace speech prior to the Taliban’s power (Sabawoon, 2021)

Child marriages are increasing, the amount of women’s jobs and degree of education are plunging (International Rescue Committee, 2021).

According to Sahraa Karimi, a female filmmaker located in Afghanistan, the Taliban have lied to civilians and the world about the power transfer. They claimed that the power transfer would be peaceful. However, it has been anything but. To quote from Karimi’s letter recently posted to Twitter:

“[The Taliban] have massacred our people, they kidnapped many children, the sold girls as child brides to their men, they murdered a woman for her attire, they gauged the eyes of a woman […] they have displaced hundreds of families.”

You can read the rest of her letter at https://www.dw.com/en/the-taliban-will-ban-all-art-an-afghan-female-filmmakers-plea/a-58877655.

Other accounts of the Taliban’s savagery include beating women for the length of their burqa, painting their nails and punishing women if they perceived her as “too independent” (i.e. leaving the house without her husband). They have also ordered local religious leaders to provide a list of girls and women over the age of 15 and widows under the age of 45 to be forcibly married to their soldiers (Banerjee, 2021; Narain, 2021).

How does this affect women?

As one can see, many of the Taliban’s attacks are centred around women. Innocent girls and women are prevented from living the life that they deserve, and therefore must hide in fear of being tortured or murdered. They are prevented from completing their education, returning to their jobs, becoming independent, and in some cases, from growing up.

How can you help?

Donating to charities such as Amnesty International, Women for Afghan Women and The United Nations’ World Food Programme supports civilians and fights for justice. You can donate here for Amnesty International, here for Women for Afghan Women and here for the World Food Programme.

Additionally, you can support refugees who are currently settling in the local community as well as discussing and raising awareness about Afghanistan on your social media and with your friends and family. Educate yourself further on what is happening – even the smallest gesture can make the greatest difference in the long run.

Bibliography

Banerjee, D., 2021. The Conversation. [Online]

Available at: https://theconversation.com/the-talibans-conquest-of-kabul-threatens-the-lives-and-safety-of-girls-women-and-sexual-minorities-166254

[Accessed 18 September 2021].

Fischels, J., 2021. Internally displaced Afghan women from northern provinces, who fled their home due to fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security personnel. [image] Available at: <https://www.npr.org/2021/08/16/1027929275/what-womens-advocacy-groups-worldwide-are-doing-for-women-in-afghanistan> [Accessed 18 September 2021].

International Rescue Committee, 2021. International Rescue Committee. [Online]

Available at: https://www.rescue.org/article/what-happening-women-and-girls-afghanistan

[Accessed 16 September 2021].

Narain, V., 2021. The Conversation. [Online]

Available at: https://theconversation.com/the-world-must-not-look-away-as-the-taliban-sexually-enslaves-women-and-girls-165426

[Accessed 18 September 2021].

Sabawoon, H., 2021. TIME. [Online]

Available at: https://time.com/6087101/women-afghanistan-what-comes-next/

[Accessed 21 September 2021].