Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau

URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/taliban-tried-employing-afghan-women/d/135873

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The Taliban Tried To Stop Lida Mangal From Employing Afghan Women

By Isabella Ross

15-06-2025

Lida Mangal says her Afghan garment business in Western Sydney is a form of “resistance and representation”. (ABC News: Jack Ailwood)

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LidaMangal vividly remembers the “golden years” of her childhood in Afghanistan.

Decades on, Ms Mangal has found freedom in Australia — though her country of origin and the “very strong” women who remain there never leave her thoughts.

“I thought how could I provide a means of income to these women? They had experience in tailoring and textiles. Some were widowed or without a male companion … Afghan women deserve freedom.”

Photo shows A woman wearing a blue burqa covering shields her eyes from the sun and camera while she walks in the streetA woman wearing a blue burqa covering shields her eyes from the sun and camera while she walks in the street

Virtue laws introduced by the Taliban ban women from speaking or showing their faces in public as a senior UN official called it an extension of the “already intolerable restrictions” on Afghan women.

That same year, Ms Mangal founded her business, Ghan Fashion, where she brings traditionally designed dresses from Afghanistan to Australia.

Initially, she was able to openly hire women who were still working in Afghan textile factories, but in recent years, the “barbaric regime’s agenda” has made that effort extra difficult.

“I’ve got 20 women who are working now from home, because of the restrictions of the current regime. They have their own materials and equipment they use. I explain my designs … and they prepare and make it,” she said.

A former refugee and now Australian citizen, Ms Mangal works full-time in a separate occupation, as well as running her fashion business from her Western Sydney home.

The garment transportation process is a challenge — the Taliban use sharp tools to check packages for anything being smuggled out of Afghanistan, meaning some of Ms Mangal’s dresses arrive ripped and damaged.

“This new chapter has allowed me to reclaim my voice and write a story that I choose — one filled with hope, ambition and determination.”

Kabul Social is run predominantly by female refugees from Afghanistan, notes Shaun David-Christie (far right). (Supplied: Kabul Social/Kitti Gould)

Kabul Social, founded by Plate It Forward director Shaun Christie-David, is run by a team of predominantly female refugees from Afghanistan, bringing their country’s flavours to Sydney’s CBD.

It was predated by Colombo Social, which has the same intention of celebrating culture and cuisine while employing migrants and refugees.

“What truly humbles me is seeing our refugee workforce and their families thrive, building a legacy of generational change,”  Mr Christie-David said.

Mr Christie-David said his aim was to “give people a chance that wouldn’t get one otherwise”, given the challenges of having international qualifications recognised in Australia.

Marjorie Tenchavez is the founder and director of Welcome Merchant, a social enterprise that elevates refugee and people seeking asylum entrepreneurs.

“Often they [refugees] have family members relying on them in their home countries as well. Refugee merchants also don’t have mainstream access to much support, such as borrowing from the banks, given many are on bridging visas.”

“It’s now more important than ever to give them a platform because there has definitely been a waning interest in the refugee space.”

Adama Kamara, deputy chief executive officer of Refugee Council of Australia, said the event was a way to champion the resilient nature of many refugees.

“Refugees are among Australia’s most entrepreneurial newcomers … this incredible drive, often born out of necessity and a desire to contribute, adds significant economic and social value,” she said.

Later this year, the 1 millionth permanent refugee visa will be issued since Australia’s post-war resettlement program began in 1947, according to the Refugee Council.

Source: www.abc.net.au

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-15/former-refugee-helps-women-in-afghanistan-via-sydney-business/105365380

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‘I Wish I Weren’t A Girl’: 700,000 Women Struggle For Menstrual Hygiene In War-Torn Gaza

By Supratik Das

15 Jun 2025

Representational Image | Credit: Reuters

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At the centre of an relentless humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, an often overlooked crisis is unfolding with quiet urgency, that is women’s and girls’ menstrual well-being. During Israel’s months-long siege and heavy shelling, close to 700,000 menstruating women and girls are finding it difficult to cope with their periods with dignity and safety. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has cautioned that lack of access to essential hygiene products, clean water, and safe facilities has converted a normal biological process into a deep humanitarian and public health emergency.

According to UN global data, 1.8 billion people menstruate worldwide, but in conflict areas like Gaza, menstruation becomes far more than a monthly inconvenience, it becomes a human rights concern. In overcrowded displacement shelters and temporary tent camps, girls getting their first period are doing so in unimaginable conditions. They have no sanitary pads, no soap, and no private toilets. “I only had one pad, so I wrapped it in toilet paper to make it last. I couldn’t wash, and the pain was horrible. I sat in silence crying until the end of the day,” a displaced teenage girl told UNFPA. These stories are no longer isolated. Since March, the blockade of humanitarian relief has severely limited the introduction of hygiene material. While a partial suspension of the ban allowed for some relief, distribution of aid which is now organised by channels outside the UN system is still woefully insufficient. Current levels of delivery are far below the colossal demand, with only a small portion of more than 10 million sanitary pads needed monthly reaching Gaza’s displaced persons. “This crisis is not just about hygiene; it is about dignity, health, and the protection of basic human rights. “Food keeps us alive, but pads, soap, and privacy let us live with dignity,” a displaced woman from Khan Younis, said in a UNFPA statement.

With over 90 per cent of the region’s water and sanitation infrastructure destroyed and water pumping fuel out of reach, the hygiene crisis is assuming a deadly dimension. Women are resorting to makeshift substitutes such as worn-out clothing, used cloths, or sponges which are often unclean and unsuitable for prolonged use heightening the threat of urinary tract infections, reproductive disorders, and long-term health impairment. A father of four girl child from Jabalia recounted his sorrow, “I ripped my single shirt apart so my daughters could wear it as an alternative to pads,” he explained to UNFPA. Another girl admitted, “Every time my period comes, I wish I weren’t a girl,” she said to the UN agency. A local physician recounted how normal phenomena like menstruation, pregnancy, and giving birth are becoming traumatic because of the absence of essential materials. “These should be routine experiences. But now, I witness pain, humiliation, and desperation in women’s eyes on a daily basis,” she said to UNFP

While the health of menstruation has gone disastrous, the overall situation for women in Gaza is equally bleak. As per UNFPA, food insecurity is catastrophic, with one person out of every five starved. For approximately 55,000 pregnant women, every skipped meal increases the likelihood of miscarriage, stillbirth, and giving birth to underweight infants.

According to UN nearly 17,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are projected to require urgent treatment for acute malnutrition in the coming months. Gaza’s already fragile health infrastructure is on the brink of collapse after prolonged bombardment of hospitals and healthcare facilities. Healthcare workers do not have the medicines and equipment they need.

Source: www.Thedailyjagran.Com

https://www.thedailyjagran.com/world/i-wish-i-was-not-a-girl-women-struggle-for-menstrual-hygiene-in-war-torn-gaza-heres-what-report-says-10245149

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TikTok Murder Sends Chill Through Pakistani Influencers: ‘Every Woman Knows This Fear’

15 Jun 2025

Since seeing thousands of comments justifying the recent murder of a teenage TikTok star in Pakistan, Sunaina Bukhari is considering abandoning her 88,000 followers.

“In my family, it wasn’t an accepted profession at all, but I’d managed to convince them, and even ended up setting up my own business,” she said.

Then last week, Sana Yousaf was shot dead outside her house in the capital Islamabad by a man whose advances she had repeatedly rejected, police said.

News of the murder led to an outpouring of comments under her final post – her 17th birthday celebration where she blew out the candles on a cake.

In between condolence messages, some blamed her for her own death: “You reap what you sow” or “it’s deserved, she was tarnishing Islam”.

Yousaf had racked up more than a million followers on social media, where she shared her favourite cafes, skincare products and traditional shalwarkameez outfits.

Source: Www.Scmp.com

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3314505/tiktok-murder-sends-chill-through-pakistani-influencers-every-woman-knows-fear

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UN Human Rights Council to spotlight rights of Afghan women at 59th Session

by Milad Sayar

June 15, 2025

The United Nations Human Rights Council is set to open its 59th session on Monday, June 16, in Geneva, where delegates will consider an agenda that includes the worsening rights crisis in Afghanistan, particularly the treatment of women and girls under Taliban rule.

According to the Council’s official schedule, the session will run through July 9 and will feature reports and interactive dialogues addressing human rights violations in more than a dozen countries, including Sudan, Myanmar, Iran and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Among the most closely watched items will be a presentation by Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.

Bennett’s report, titled “Access to Justice and Support for Women and Girls and the Impact of Multiple and Intersecting Forms of Discrimination,” concludes that the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women and girls amount to a system of gender apartheid. It calls on the international community to recognize such policies as crimes under international law.

“The Council must take urgent and decisive action,” said Sima Nouri, a human rights activist who is among those calling for an independent fact-finding mission. “We need a mechanism to document the full scope of Taliban abuses — from gender-based discrimination and ethnic killings to the violent suppression of peaceful protests. Afghanistan’s case should be referred to the International Criminal Court.”

Since retaking power in 2021, the Taliban have barred most Afghan women and girls from work, education, and even freedom of movement without a male escort. MasoudaKohistani, another rights advocate, called the situation “a human rights emergency that demands global attention.”

Though Afghanistan will be discussed on the opening day, it is one part of a broader session that includes topics ranging from the human rights impacts of climate change to racial discrimination, digital rights, and the situations in Palestine, Venezuela and Belarus. No general debates are scheduled this session, but several high-level interactive dialogues will take place throughout the four weeks.

The Human Rights Council, which meets three times a year, is the UN’s primary intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. Its 59th session will include reports from special rapporteurs, commissions of inquiry and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Rights advocates say they hope the international community will not lose focus on Afghanistan amid competing global crises. “This is a pivotal moment,” Nouri said. “The world must not abandon Afghan women.”

Source: amu.tv

https://amu.tv/180591/

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Pakistan names women’s squad for AFC qualifiers amid bid to elevate football’s profile

Arab News Pakistan

June 15, 2025

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Saturday unveiled its squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, as the country seeks to uplift its women’s football program and strengthen its profile in a sport where its men’s team has also struggled to gain traction.

Pakistan’s men’s national team, briefly competitive in regional tournaments in the decades following independence, has long languished near the bottom of Asian rankings amid administrative issues and lack of sustained investment.

In contrast, women’s football in Pakistan began to take shape in the early 2000s, with the formation of the country’s first women’s football clubs in 2002 and the launch of the National Women’s Football Championship in 2005.

“The Pakistan Football Federation has named a squad for the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, set to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia from June 29 to July 5,” said the PFF in a statement.

Placed in Group E, the team will open its campaign on June 29 against Chinese Taipei, confront host Indonesia on July 2 and conclude the group stage against Kyrgyzstan on July 5.

Athletes have recently expanded into Olympic swimming and achieved international success in javelin, demonstrating a broader ambition to elevate sports beyond one stronghold.

Pakistan will be seeking its first-ever Women’s Asian Cup appearance, while the men’s side continues to fight for relevance amid FIFA rankings that reached a historic low before recent suspensions were lifted.

Pakistan’s national women’s football team was officially formed in 2010 and has yet to qualify for a Women’s Asian Cup or World Cup, but played in multiple SAFF Championships and remained a bright spot in domestic football.

Source: Www.Arabnews.com

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2604523/pakistan

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‘Pakistan-born’ woman booked in UP’s Bareilly for procuring fake Aadhaar, ration card

by Manish Sahu

June 15, 2025

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday booked a 68-year-old woman of Pakistani origin in Bareilly for allegedly obtaining an Aadhaar card and ration card through fraudulent means. The woman has been residing in India for nearly six decades on a long-term visa.

The police said that during a campaign to spot Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals staying illegally in the district, they received a tip-off about a Pakistan-born woman allegedly availing of benefits of government schemes using forged documents.

The case has been filed against the woman, identified as Farhad Sultana, under relevant sections of the Citizenship Act and for cheating at the Baradari police station, said a police officer.

The police learned that Sultana, born in Karachi, arrived in India in 1965 at the age of eight with her mother and sister, on a long-term visa.

Source: Indianexpress.Com

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/pakistan-born-woman-booked-in-ups-bareilly-for-procuring-fake-aadhaar-ration-card-10067350/

Courtesy: New Age Islam

The post The Taliban Tried To Stop Lida Mangal From Employing Afghan Women appeared first on SabrangIndia.

It is true that the degree of intensity of the policies of these two, Hindu Nationalism and Taliban, are very different but if one digs deep into the issue one can see the basic similarities in these types of politics. The Taliban policies towards women, the attitude of many Gulf countries and Iran are similar but not exactly the same. No two countries express their policies on ditto lines. Still one can discern the similarities at the level of principles. This phenomenon, fundamentalism in these countries has come up mainly from the decade of 1980s, with Ayatollah Khomeini coming to power in Iran; he changed the social landscape drastically. While at superficial level fundamentalism means going to the fundamentals, it is not just that. Fundamentalism is an imposition of selected parts of religious traditions on the society through state power. Many times this is done even not by the government which is ruling; but by dominant political tendencies.

These impositions are most conservative, backward looking and oppressive not only to women but also to the other weaker sections of society. Fundamentalism always strengthens itself by creating an internal or external enemy. In most of the Gulf countries it is women which are the main target. At places “Satan” (devil) America is so presented as the main. To this enemy all the ills of society are attributed to. In that way the Fascism which developed in Germany in particular shares this trait with fundamentalism, where Jews were labeled as cause of Germany’s ills and were targeted to the extent of Genocide, to strengthen the power of the leader, who was supreme in the state.

The traits of fundamentalism and fascism are also seeing some overlap. In Germany, women were dictated to be the beings whose role is in ‘Kitchen, Church and Children’. Depending on different countries these roles are patterned on similar lines, even in fundamentalism.

Hindu Nationalists’ most overt attack is on the Muslims (and lately Christians also). We have witnessed horrific communal violence increasing in quality and quantity over the last few decades. Beginning from the ghastly tragedy of demolishing a Mosque in Ayodhya and the consequent violence now questioning the existence of mosque is proliferating like a malignant cancer. In addition there is cow-beef lynching becoming the order of the day. Cow vigilantes are proliferating dime a dozen. The word Jihad to target the Muslim minorities has picked up and starting from love jihad, corona jihad to now land jihad has been added to the ever proliferating list!

No doubt compared to the targeting of Muslims the other implications of this fundamentalism get dwarfed in India, though they are very much similar. As far as women are concerned the Sati system has been prohibited, the last one being that of Roopkawar in the 1980s. In the Bhavari Devi case the upper caste rapist were released with the honorable Court opining that how can the upper caste accused be raping a low caste women! That’s the reflection of prevalence of caste system.

If we analyze the attitude of Hindu nationalist policies, the very notion of love jihad is very much anti women. This gives the handle to the male members of the family, to keep a watch on ‘their’ girls. The Same tendency which has been opposing the love jihad is opposed to the wearing of jeans by girls. The attitude regarding violence is best reflected in the Bilkis Bano case, where those found guilty of rape and murder were honored once they got relapsed. Mercifully they are back in jail to serve the sentence. A woman professor from Goa who wrote that Mangal Sutra is like a chain for women was hounded badly. To cap it all at theoretical level Manu Smiriti is eulogized as the ideal to be followed.

Calling all this as Hindu religiosity as she calls the present offensive of Hindu nationalists is very much off the mark. She herself cites the example of three Muslims being beaten with slippers to shout Jai Shree Ram. Here labeling all this in the category of religiosity hides the commonality of all this as having its similarity with fundamentalism. Calling Muslim fundamentalism as jihadi Islam falls too short and away from the commonalities, which is prevailing in many countries. It prevails in Egypt and many other countries as Muslim Brotherhood. Then there is the Ayatollah regime in Iran.

Hindu religiosity is practiced by millions of Hindus, who have been living with people of other religions for centuries, making India a really plural, diverse country. What began as an ideology articulated by Savarkar and Golwalkar is the base on which the present actions and policies of Hindu nationalism stand. These were totally opposed to Indian Nationalism which emerged as the part of anti colonial struggle. The greatest Hindu of the twentieth century, Mahatma Gandhi had to take three bullets on his chest for standing as a Hindu standing for plural India.

Singh is right in detesting this ‘religiosity’ but she needs to delve deep to understand this is the same pattern which ‘Jihadi Islam’ and Islamic Fundamentalists followed. Here politics derives its legitimacy from religion and mauls the society under the clothing of religion. And that is precisely what is going on in India today, be it the claim over most of the mosques, or use of bulldozers or to beat the Muslim Children in the class a la Tripta Tyagi of locking the child in the store for bringing non vegetarian food in the school, or beating the girls coming out from a pub in Mangalore!

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Sabrangindia

Also Read:

Sambhal Mosque, Ajmer Dargah: how deep do we plunge into the abyss?

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear

Restating the agenda of Hindu Rashtra: RSS chief sets the tone for BJP politics

The post Taliban, Women’s Equality and Hindutva Nationalism appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Systematic Suppression of Women’s Rights

Under Taliban rule, women’s rights have been systematically suppressed, suffocating every aspect of their lives. The Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law has led to the banning of women from attending schools, working in NGO offices, and participating in public office and the judiciary. The above-mentioned joint report states that “women and girls in Afghanistan are experiencing severe discrimination that may amount to gender persecution – a crime against humanity – and be characterised as gender apartheid, as the de facto authorities appear to be governing by systemic discrimination with the intention to subject women and girls to total domination”.  These restrictions not only curtail women’s personal freedoms but also hinder the progress of Afghan society as a whole. Education is a vital tool for empowerment and social advancement, and by denying women access to education, the Taliban is ensuring the perpetuation of gender inequality and limiting the country’s potential for development.

The Taliban’s oppressive policies also extend to the economic sphere, where women’s ability to work and contribute to their families’ livelihoods has been severely curtailed. By excluding women from the workforce, the Taliban is not only depriving them of financial independence but also undermining the overall economic growth and stability of Afghanistan. It is essential for the international community to recognize the significance of economic empowerment for women and advocate for inclusive economic policies that enable Afghan women to participate fully and contribute to the rebuilding of their nation.

Brutal Imposition of Punishments

The Taliban’s harsh interpretation of Islamic law has resulted in the brutal imposition of punishments on women. Stoning, lashing, and amputation have become tools of intimidation and control. These cruel practices not only cause physical harm but also instill fear among women, effectively silencing their voices and perpetuating a climate of oppression. The international community must condemn such barbaric acts and take decisive action to protect the fundamental rights and dignity of Afghan women.

The brutal punishments imposed by the Taliban serve as a chilling deterrent to women who dare to challenge the status quo. By subjecting women to such inhumane treatment, the Taliban aims to enforce conformity and maintain a patriarchal power structure. The international community must make it clear that such actions are unacceptable and stand in direct violation of universally recognized human rights principles. Sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and targeted assistance should be employed to hold the Taliban accountable for their egregious violations and work towards dismantling the culture of fear that prevails in Afghanistan.

Widespread Restrictions on Women’s Rights

The Taliban’s edicts have imposed widespread restrictions on the rights of women and girls, encompassing various aspects of their lives. From curbing their freedom of movement and dictating their attire and behaviour to limiting their access to education, healthcare, and justice, Afghan women find themselves trapped in a web of oppressive regulations. This should be recognised for what it is, a form of apartheid, gender-apartheid.

The freedom of movement is a basic human right that enables individuals to pursue education, employment, and opportunities for personal growth. By restricting women’s mobility, the Taliban effectively confines them to their homes, stripping them of agency and autonomy. This not only hampers their ability to access essential services but also perpetuates their reliance on male relatives, further exacerbating gender inequality.

The Taliban’s imposition of strict dress codes and behavioural expectations further reinforces the notion that women’s bodies and actions must be controlled. Such restrictions infringe upon women’s right to self-expression and individuality, reducing them to mere objects subjected to societal norms and expectations. The international community must advocate for the freedom of expression and choice, encouraging Afghan women to reclaim their identities and challenge the oppressive norms imposed upon them.

Access to education, healthcare, and justice is vital for the well-being and empowerment of women. The Taliban’s restrictions in these areas deny women their basic rights, leaving them vulnerable and marginalized. Education is not only a means to acquire knowledge but also a tool for empowerment and social change. By denying women access to education, the Taliban perpetuates a cycle of ignorance and dependence. Similarly, limited access to healthcare and justice denies women essential services and denies them recourse in cases of abuse or discrimination.

The Taliban’s treatment of women in Afghanistan is nothing short of a gender apartheid, as characterized by experts in the field. Afghan women, who were making significant strides towards empowerment and equality over the past two decades, now face an uncertain and perilous future. Their rights and freedoms have been erased, and their voices have been silenced by a regime that is inherently anti-women. According to the UN, around 80% of girls and young women of school age are not in education.  This systematic suppression of women’s rights, brutal imposition of punishments, and widespread restrictions on their freedoms demand urgent attention from the international community. Efforts must be made to protect their rights, provide aid and support, and hold the Taliban accountable for their actions. Only through collective action can we hope to restore justice, dignity, and equality for the women of Afghanistan and prevent a humanitarian crisis from further deepening. The time to act is now.

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A decades old patron of New Age Islam, Dr Adis Duderija is a Senior Lecturer in the Study of Islam and Society, School of Humanities, Languages and Social Science ; Senior Fellow Centre for Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue, Griffith University | Nathan | Queensland | Australia.

Courtesy: New Age Islam

The post Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan under the Taliban appeared first on SabrangIndia.

A young Afgani woman has tweeted:

SaraWahedi (@Sara Wahedi) Tweeted: Professor Ismail Mashal, who ripped up his diplomas on live TV in Afghanistan and went viral across the world, was arrested by the Taliban yesterday.

His defiantly stood against the Taliban’s ban on women’s education. Now, he’s been silenced. Demand his release.

#FreeMashal 

Professor Ismail Mashal, who ripped up his diplomas on live TV in Afghanistan and went viral across the world, was arrested by the Taliban yesterday.

His defiantly stood against the Taliban’s ban on women’s education. Now, he’s been silenced. Demand his release.#FreeMashal pic.twitter.com/UiZ6X3iZb5

— Sara Wahedi (@SaraWahedi) February 4, 2023

Related:

Kabul University Prof Protests Taliban ban on Women’s Education, Tears Up Diplomas on TV

IMSD condemns the Taliban’s shutting of university gates to Muslim women

Afghanistan a year after the Taliban occupation: An ongoing war on human rights

The post University professor, outspoken critic of the Taliban’s ban on education for women and girls arrested in Kabul: Afghanistan appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Representational use only.Image Courtesy:Flickr

Protesting the Taliban’s hard-line strictures against women’s education, a Kabul University professor tore up his diplomas on live TV saying that he doesn’t “accept this education” if his “mother and sister can’t study”.

After seizing power last August, the Taliban have brutally clamped down on women in several ways, including a ban on returning to secondary schools in March and university education this month.

In a viral clip from the TV show, the professor shows his diplomas and then tears them one by one.

“From today, I don’t need these diplomas anymore because this country is no place for an education. If my sister & my mother can’t study, then I DON’T accept this education,” he says in the video, tweeted by Shabnam Nasimi, former policy adviser to the minister for Afghan resettlement and minister for refugees.

“Astonishing scenes as a Kabul university professor destroys his diplomas on live TV in Afghanistan,” Nasimi tweeted along with the video. 

Astonishing scenes as a Kabul university professor destroys his diplomas on live TV in Afghanistan —

“From today I don’t need these diplomas anymore because this country is no place for an education. If my sister & my mother can’t study, then I DON’T accept this education.” pic.twitter.com/cTZrpmAuL6

— Shabnam Nasimi (@NasimiShabnam) December 27, 2022

Last week, minister for higher education Neda Mohammad Nadeem issued a letter to all government and private universities banning university education for Afghan women. “You all are informed to immediately implement the mentioned order of suspending the education of females until further notice,” Nadeem wrote.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) had termed the ban a “shameful decision that violates the right to education for women and girls in Afghanistan”.

“The Taliban are making it clear every day that they don’t respect the fundamental rights of Afghans, especially women,” HRW said in a statement.

The US state department condemned the Taliban’s “indefensible decision to ban women from universities” as well.

After the Taliban takeover, women have been barred from working in most sectors, require a male guardian for long-distance travel and have to cover their faces in public.

Courtesy: Newsclick

The post Kabul University Prof Protests Taliban ban on Women’s Education, Tears Up Diplomas on TV appeared first on SabrangIndia.

IMSD unequivocally condemns the blatantly misogynist decree of Taliban that for all practical purposes has effectively banned women’s education in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban have taken over in 2021, girls haven’t been able to access schools. Although they promised to open girls’ school from March 23rd; the same day they revoked the order. This December on the 20th, there is another edict which debars women from universities. As always, no reasons were cited; neither did they indicate whether this is just a temporary measure. Going by what they have done with schools, the ban appears to be a permanent one.

The IMSD would like to remind the international community that the Taliban, during the negotiations in Doha, had promised not to rollback whatever little gains Afghan women had made in terms of education. Those who were spinning the narrative that the Taliban 2.0 was different from its earlier version now need to explain their continued support to this fanatic group. Those in the Indian Muslim community who were celebrating the Taliban takeover need to ask themselves whether this is the future they envision for half the Ummah. This is the time when the Muslim world should sit up and take notice as to what happens when we empower religious orthodoxies.

We would also like to point out that such anti-women diktats should not be seen as exceptions. The now increasingly marginalized idea that Muslim women should not be educated, has a long genealogy in the Muslim world. The (in)famous Deobandi, Ashraf Ali Thanwi, never wanted women to have even an iota of modern education. Deoband is the spiritual fountainhead of the Taliban; hence it shouldn’t surprise us that its ideological descendants are excluding women from all public spaces including schools and universities. IMSD believes that a fight against the depravities of the Taliban will be incomplete without questioning the very foundational ideas which inform such antediluvian practices.

IMSD stands in solidarity with all the struggling women and men in Afghanistan who are resisting such evil decrees of the regressive Ulama. We welcome the fact that the governments of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have condemned the Taliban’s regressive step and appeal to the international community to urgently intervene and demand that this grossly violative decision be taken back immediately. We also appeal to all Indian Muslim organizations to outrightly condemn this misogynist action of the Taliban regime.

1. A. J. Jawad, IMSD Co-convenor, Advocate, Chennai

2. (Dr) Amar Jesani, Medico Friends Circle, Mumbai

3. Amir Rizvi, IMSD, Designer, Mumbai

4. Anand Patwardhan, IMSD, Documentary Filmmaker, Mumbai

5. Anjum Rajabali, IMSD, Film writer, Mumbai

6. Arshad Alam, IMSD, Commentator, Delhi

7. Askari Zaidi, IMSD, Senior Journalist, Delhi

8. Ashhar Khan, Jaunpur

9. Bilal Khan, IMSD, Housing rights activist, Mumbai

10. Dipak Malik

11. Feroz Abbas Khan, IMSD, Director, Producer, Mumbai

12. Feroze Mithiborwala, IMSD Co-convenoir, Bharat Bachao Andolan, Mumbai

13. Gauhar Raza, Anhad, Delhi

14. Ghulam Rasool Dehlv, Islamic scholari

15. Hasan Ibrahim Pasha, IMSD, Writer, Allahabad

16. (Dr) Indira Munshi, retired professor, Mumbai

17. Javed Akhtar, IMSD, Poet, lyricist, Padma Bhushan, former MP, Mumbai

18. Javed Anand, IMSD Convenor, Human Rights Defender, Mumbai

19. Khadeeja Faroqui, Social Activist, Delhi

20. Lara Jasani, Lawyer, Social Activist, Mumbai

21. Mallika Sarabhai, Activist, Classical Dancer,Ahmedabad

22. (Dr) Manisha Gupte, Social activist

23. Mansoor Sardar, IMSD, Social Activist, Bhiwandi

24. Mohammed Imran, Delhi, New York

25. Muniza Khan, IMSD, CJP,Varanasi

26. Naseeruddin Shah, Actor, Mumbai

27. Nasim Khan, Varanasi

28. Nasreen Fazelbhoy, IMSD, retired professor, Mumbai

29. Neelima Sharma, Theatre, Delhi

30. (Prof) Qamar Jahan, Lucknow

31. Qaisar Pasha, IMSD, Homemaker, Allahabad

32. Qutub Jahan, IMSD, Social Activist, Mumbai

33. Rahman Abbas, Author, Novelist, Mira Road, Thane

34. (Dr) Ram Puniyani, IMSD, Author, Commentator, Mumbai

35. Rashida Tapadar, Civil service coach, freelance writer, Nagaland

36. Rooprekha Verma, former Vice-chancellor, Lucknow

37. Sabah Khan, IMSD, Parcham, Mumbai

38. Saif Mahmood, IMSD, Supreme Court lawyer,Delhi

39. Sandhya Gokhale, Feminist activist, FAOW, Mumbai

40. Shabana Mashraki, Mumbai

41. Shabnam Hashmi, Anhad, Delhi

42. Shalini Dhawan, Designer, Mumbai

43. Shama Bano, Social activist, Varanasi

44. Shama Zaidi, IMSD, Film Maker, Mumbai

45. Shamim Abbasi, Mau

46. Shamsul Islam, Author, Delhi

47. Sheeba Aslam Fehmi, Writer, Commentator, Delhi

48. Sultan Shahin, Editor-in-chief, New Age Islam, Delhi

49. Teesta Setalvad, IMSD, CJP Secretary, Mumbai

50. Vasanthi Raman, retired professor, Delhi

51. (Dr) Vibhti Patel, retired professor, Mumbai

52. Zakia Soman, Co-convenor, Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Delhi

53. (Dr) Zeenat Shaukatali, IMSD, Islamic Scholar, Author

The post IMSD condemns the Taliban’s shutting of university gates to Muslim women appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The word “anniversary” usually brings about happy and memorable moments. But Aug. 15 marks one year since the Taliban takeover and occupation of Afghanistan, and it’s not a happy occasion for my homeland.

Recently, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released a report entitled “Human Rights in Afghanistan,” delving into the situation in the country since the takeover.

The report is troubling but not shocking as it highlights civilian casualties, restrictions on women’s rights and freedom of speech, extrajudicial killings and ethnic minority persecutions. Yet a lot is under-reported due to the difficulties in gathering evidence against the Taliban, which has censored the media and mistreated journalists.

The UNAMA report states that the Taliban have taken steps “aimed at the protection and promotion of human rights” and that the security has improved. UNAMA has proposed several recommendations to the Taliban as the extremist regime tries to enhance its reputation globally, but the fundamental human rights of Afghans continue to be violated.

War against women

Afghanistan is under occupation. There have been many reports detailing the forced displacement and systemic genocide against the Hazara population, targeted violence and eyewitness reports of the mass killings of 600 Tajik hostages, crimes against humanity in Panjshir, strip-mining of mineral wealth and the war the Taliban are waging against women.

As the Taliban send their daughters to schools overseas, secondary schools for other girls have been banned for almost a year.

Women are forced to wear the hijab or burqa, park visits are segregated by sex and women were recently sacked from their jobs at the Finance Ministry in favour of male relatives.

Amnesty International’s recent report describes the situation of Afghan women as “death in slow motion.” With the scrapping also of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, this is a gender-apartheid regime.

The Taliban have also instructed men to grow beards and not trim them, and to wear local clothing or face consequences.

Other tragedies are ongoing. Millions of Afghans have been displaced since the occupation. A powerful earthquake in June killed more than 1,000 people, leading to a cholera outbreak. The Doha Agreement, a peace pact signed between the U.S. and Taliban to mark the withdrawal of all forces in Afghanistan, has also been breached as terrorist groups reposition themselves under the Taliban.

Foreign interference

Between 1996 and 2001, only three countries recognized the Taliban regime: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. While no country has formally recognized the current regime, the United States and co-instigators like Pakistan and the Arab Gulf states have destabilized Afghanistan.

Much of the destabilization and corruption found in Afghanistan dates back to American and Soviet involvement in infrastructure projects in the 1950s and 1960s that haunts the country to this day. The nation’s entire economy relied on foreign aid.

At a UN conference last year, Pakistan’s former prime minister not only defended Taliban occupiers, but claimed that the only way forward was to “strengthen this current government” and “stabilize it for the sake of the people in Afghanistan.”

This was based on the Taliban promise they would adhere to human rights, form an inclusive government, provide amnesty to former government employees and not allow the country to serve as a safe haven for terrorists. Almost a year later, none of this is true.

There have been anti-Pakistan protests in Afghanistan condemning the many frequent visits of Pakistani officials in Afghanistan and their support of the Taliban.

The discounted sale of coal to Pakistan was greeted with public outcry by Afghans, reaffirming views that the Taliban are a Pakistani proxy.

Qatar also has close ties to the Taliban and a security agreement is possible. China has engaged with the Taliban by expanding trade and investment plans.

Cruel treatment of refugees

The Afghan refugee crisis is unsettling. Iran has deported thousands of Afghan refugees and subjected them to abusive treatment by both the public and authorities, while Turkey has also forcefully deported more than 10,000 Afghan migrants.

Belgium has rejected asylum claims of hundreds of Afghan refugees, putting them at risk of being deported as authorities deem Afghanistan to be safe.

Germany has evicted Afghan refugees from their homes within a 24-hour period to make space for Ukrainian refugees.

Canada has capped the number of Afghan refugees at 40,000, yet there’s no cap for Ukrainian refugees, and the government has also waived some security measures for Ukrainians.

It’s estimated that more than 650,000 Afghans from neighbouring nations have been deported or returned to Afghanistan since August 2021. This puts many at severe risk under the Taliban regime.

Now with the passage of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, U.S. humanitarian aid delivered to Afghanistan via Defense Department resources has ended. The greatest humanitarian crisis in the world will continue to worsen as long the Taliban are in power.

An absence of war is not the same as peace when Afghans are continuously stripped of their human rights. The Taliban must not be whitewashed — they are patriarchal terrorists. Resistance forces continue to fight this illegitimate regime that is not in any way representative of Afghans — but the rest of the world needs to step up.

Ferdouse Asefi, PhD candidate, Sociology, University of Toronto

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The post Afghanistan a year after the Taliban occupation: An ongoing war on human rights appeared first on SabrangIndia.

After the former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country on August 15, 2021, the Taliban, allegedly with the direct support of the army of Pakistan, captured Kabul, the Afghanistan capital. The resistance continued for a short time in Panjshir province leaded by Ahmad Massoud, but the resistance was defeated by the alleged intervention of the army of Pakistan.

The people of Afghanistan have been living amidst abysmal conditions since the Taliban came to power. Nearly one million employees of the previous government lost their jobs. The economic system is falling apart and poverty is rampant. 

Foreign aid is distributed only to those who support the Taliban, and poorest people are deprived of such aid. The humanitarian aid which provided by India to the people of Afghanistan, unfortunately, the aid is only distributed to relatives of Taliban members and it is not distributed to the country’s poor peoples.

The education system is broken and schools and universities are closed. Women have been denied the right to study and work, and girls have been barred from going out of their homes. My mother was a teacher and my sisters were school students, my mother lost her job and my sister can’t go to school, they are staying at home like prisoners.

The scientists and other people working in the field have left the country and thousands of citizens are leaving the country every day due to poverty and unemployment. Most of the soldiers of the previous government have left Afghanistan. Some of them remain in the country, they are arrested and tortured by the Taliban. Professional people are fired from government offices and replaced by people who have any relationship with the Pakistan government.

Afghanistan is made up of different ethnic groups such as the Hazara, Tajik, Uzbek and Pashtun. But in the Taliban government, only the Pashtun ethnic group is present and other ethnic groups play no role. Due to the absence of other ethnic groups in the Taliban cabinet, this group has not yet been recognized by other countries. Taliban are not acceptable to any people of Afghanistan. Most Afghans, especially women, oppose Taliban rule. Every day uprisings against the group are taking place across Afghanistan. But due to lack of foreign support, the uprisings are being suppressed by the Taliban.

Nowadays Afghan people are in a tough situation. As an Afghan student, I request international powers and our friendly countries to help my country. There will be a humanitarian catastrophe if foreign aid does not arrive in this country. Foreign aid should not be given to the Taliban and should be distributed directly to the people of Afghanistan. I also believe that the Taliban is a huge threat to the security of our neighbours and the countries of the world. Taliban doesn’t believe in human rights and, especially, women’s rights.

As an Afghan citizen who is aware of the tyranny and crimes of the Taliban, I urge India and the rest of the world not to recognize the Taliban in any way. It is not just my voice and request, it is the request of millions men and women of Afghanistan.

* The writer is an MBA student from Afghanistan.

Related:

Afghanistan: Women, Economy and Taliban

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EXCLUSIVE: Craig Whitlock exposes the Secret History of the War in Afghanistan

‘Taliban Are Unlikely To Reform’

The post Afghan citizens under the Taliban rule: Frustration, poverty, and displacement appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In Islam, there are no restrictions on the work and education of women. A clear example of this is Hazrat Khadijeh, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad. Khadijeh, the daughter of Khwild, was a wealthy woman who engaged in trade and commerce in the age of Arab barbarism, when many girls were buried alive after birth.

The hypothesis of acquiring knowledge and education in men and women has also been confirmed in Quran and hadith. There is an authentic hadith from the Holy Prophet (PBUH) which says that “seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim man and Muslim woman.”

Article 22 of the Afghan Constitution, adopted in 2004, explicitly bats for gender equality – all forms of discrimination are prohibited. Afghan citizens, both men and women, have equal rights and duties under the law.

Women make up half of society in any country and play a significant role in the economy. Women have been one of the most vulnerable groups in the history of Afghanistan. Decades of war, cultural backwardness in Afghan society, have left women in social and cultural poverty, with little opportunity for advancement. Due to the illiteracy of many men and women in the traditional society and adherence to certain ethnic customs, less attention was paid to the role and position of women in political, economic and social affairs. But Afghan women struggled with the challenges despite all the difficulties.

The previous Taliban government in Afghanistan was referred to as the Dark Age for Afghan women, when the Taliban regime issued strict decrees barring women and girls from studying, working, and leaving home unaccompanied. The only permissible covering for women was the burqa / chador, which was issued by special ministries called “commanding the good and forbidding the evil” and included punishments such as flogging, public execution, and stoning. Then there were shocking instances of rape, sexual slavery, forced and child marriages were also included.

Opportunities for socio-political and economic participation for women were eliminated and women were excluded from these fields. The women were left at home, forcing themselves to work hard for a living, such as weaving carpets, breaking almonds and four nuts, sewing, etc., for very low wages.

In the last 20 years since the fall of the first round of the Taliban in Afghanistan, Afghanistan has been a fertile ground for the expansion of women’s activities. After the overthrow of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, most of the international community concentrated on women empowerment in Afghanistan and the number of educated women increased day by day.

Many women became involved in large-scale activities inside and outside the government. In the meantime, women have played a good role in small and medium-sized businesses and investments. The establishment of women’s business enterprises during this period was to some extent effective in improving the economic situation of women and reducing poverty. It was expected that in the long run women would be in better and more key positions and more involved in government decision-making. 

According to the statistics of the National Statistics Office, two years ago, 24% of the civil servants were women, of which 4,12,000 were government employees. Out of these, about 1,01,216 were women who held various leadership positions of ministers, consulting and as security, police guard etc. The highest number of women worked in the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the lowest in the Ministry of Independent Commissions.

According to statistics from the Afghan Ministry of Commerce and Industries, women led less than five percent of Afghanistan’s business a year ago, and the number of women-owned businesses was growing. Nearly 50,000 women in Afghanistan engaged in business, leading approximately 1,550 women-owned businesses in Afghanistan, and these women played a role in the labour market, most of them worked in manufacturing, clothing, food processing, and the production and sale of agricultural products.

About 2,741 women were licensed and work formally, and the rest operated without a formal work permit. The Ministry of Finance had also stated that in the budget for the year, it had allocated about $ 36 million for the support and economic empowerment of women. Afghan businesswomen invested $ 68 million and owned an industrial park in Kabul and many in the provinces, where more than 100 women producers worked directly in the industries, providing employment for thousands of other women.

Now that the Taliban have regained control of Afghanistan, the situation of women has returned to zero and the Dark Age once again, and unfortunately, the concerns and despair of Afghan citizens, especially women and girls, cannot be overstated. Women were thrown into the situation two decades ago, and they are still afraid of how long they will be imprisoned in the corners of their homes and deprived of the right to education, work and community activities.

The Taliban prime minister had assured that women’s rights would be protected under “Sharia law”. But there is still no “clear position” on how they will support women, and when the gates of schools, universities and work in general will be open to women. The apparent under-representation of women in the workplace is also a major problem for women these days.

The current Taliban cabinet is made up of all its members, most of them are Pashtuns, and all men. There is no any woman in this cabinet. Some members of this cabinet are on the UN sanctions list. Four of them are former Guantanamo detainees.

With the arrival of the Taliban in Afghanistan, many international and national offices, a number of government agencies, embassies, and a large number of media outlets and businesses were closed down. The Ministry of Women Affairs- MoWA, that had about 900 employees and worked in 34 provincial departments, closed down. Instead of that, the Ministry of Enjoining the Good and Forbidding the Evil began to work.

Afghanistan needs $ 6 billion to $ 8 billion a year in international aid to fund basic services, support growth, and sustain peace efforts. Although the international community has begun distributing cash to internally displaced persons and poor families, it has continued to distribute between 6,000 and 15,000 AFN per family, and food items are distributed in some provinces in a scattered and irregular manner by foreign offices.

Unfortunately, corruption is still in its place, so some families receive such amount many times and some family never receive it.  The estimated number of Afghan families is more than 7 people, when their income is not regular and consistent, this amount of money and food is not enough for one family during a month, and people are often left on the brink of starvation.

Afghanistan is facing a humanitarian crisis and famine after the Taliban came to power following a cut in aid by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. One of the conditions for many donors to Afghanistan to resume is to recognise the right of women to study and work in the country. The United Nations has warned that 23 million of Afghanistan’s nearly 40 million people are at risk of famine this winter.

The Taliban’s ban on working women could cost up to $ 1 billion, or 5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, according to a new report. The UN report paints a “frightening” picture of Afghanistan’s economy, which is under “rising inflation” and a “continuing cash crisis”.

Women make up 24 percent of the country’s workforce, and preventing them from working alone could reduce half a billion dollars in domestic consumption alone. The Taliban have told all female government employees to stay home, and only a handful of women have been asked to resume school work in essential tasks such as nursing and elementary school teachers.

According to the Taliban, in the future, a framework based on the Islamic values ​​will be set for women to work and study in Afghanistan, but how and when, is not yet clear. With these restrictions, unemployment in Afghanistan has peaked and the arrival of a cold winter is another major challenge for the people. A large number of men started working on the roads and rigging, except for women, who did not have a job to continue working in.

I know many women who break almonds and four nuts in Kabul, they receive its shell as wages to heat as fuel for their homes and return the insides to the suppliers for money. Many women have started sweeping the streets out of unemployment and poverty, cleaning the streets of the city with their faces covered and burqas at low wages.

One of the main consequences of poverty and unemployment and its negative effects is increasing violence against women, which leads to forced and underage marriages, the absence of a husband to work in neighboring countries and the deprivation of women. Ministry of Women’s Affairs, independent human rights commissions, safe houses, and numerous international, national, and government offices are working to resolve cases of violence against women. But now, with the rise of violence statistics, unfortunately, there is no body to record and process these cases.

Gul Maki is the nickname of a 33-year-old woman. She is mother of 4 children who is a teacher in a school in Mazar-e-Sharif and her husband was an employee of the Department of Women’s Affairs in Balkh province. She said, “We have not received regular and complete amount salary, the house rent and the cold of winter forced us to sell a lot of household items at a very cheap price, but we still could not feed the children.” On a more disturbing note, she continued, “As you know poverty bring violence in each house, one day after a long argument my husband emptied all his knots on me and beat me a lot.”

When she sought justice from the Taliban, they mocked and sexually harassed her. “Many Taliban soldiers who were sitting mockingly asked me to show them my injuries. I told them – you are a Muslim and a non-mahram, so how can I show you my body?” Narrating her shocking ordeal she continued, “The other one pointed to me and said – you are still young and nice, so we have many single and Muslim Mujahideen (soldier). God willing, choose one of them and we will marry you to him. Then I returned home frustrated with my wounded and injured body.“

Psychological problems are also prevalent among women grappling with financial insecurities. Studies show that poverty can increase stress disorders in women that affect their lives, work and relationships and increase the risk of depression. How a mother can cope with their children’s hunger? Restricting women breadwinners from not going out without a mahram is one of the great challenges that endangers their own health and their children.

One such woman, named Mitra from Kabul said darkly, “I wish for my death every moment, unless God has closed death on me.” She looks like a young, educated woman. Her dry and tired face and eyes indicate the unspoken and her deep inner pain. An 8-year-old boy is with her and, he discusses the price of food items with Mitra like a grown-up. I sat for a moment following the words of this eloquent and tired lady.

“This is Ahmad my eldest son, he is 8 years old,” she says introducing the little boy to me. “Since his father left, he has been the man of the house and his mother’s helper. Without thinking like other children about toys, etc., he discusses with me about household expenses and negotiating on prices with sellers and shopkeepers,” says Mitra.

“My husband was driver of a car that was transporting ANA food to them and he was martyred in a suicide bombing in Kabul. He was not a soldier. He was an ordinary driver. I now live with Ahmad and two younger girls,” she narrates her woes. “Our salaries have not been paid regularly since the advent of the Taliban. Times are filled with misery and compulsion, sometimes we get tired and give it to this child, sometimes I go to the neighbors’ house to do laundry and cleaning, and sometimes our friends and relatives support me a little,” she says asking, “They (Taliban) have announced a general amnesty that has forgiven us, but what is our sin to be forgiven. Can we forgive them?”

Mitra continues, “I cannot forgive them. Every moment when I cannot provide regular bread and clothes for my children, every moment I look for work in people’s homes and encounter different reactions from that home, I die hundreds of times and come back to life. I hate these people from the bottom of my heart.” She has a thousand questions for the Taliban, “These people are shouting about Islam, but are their deeds Islamic? Where in Islam does it say that it is okay to kill an innocent Muslim? Where is the prohibition of girls from educating in Islam? Where in Islam is it okay to take someone’s sustenance and alimony from them and lead people to poverty and oppression?” She is struggling on many fronts, but is determined to succeed, “I try my best to stay calm and in control, but sometimes I catch my breath to get up and I get short of breath. I get into a fight with myself, become aggressive and violent. In all circumstances, I say again, God, give me strength, I will stand up again and continue.”

After she left, she and her words stayed with me for many days. I thought about how many women are struggling with such difficult conditions and how many are silently dealing with this situation in the country where the field of work for women has become narrower and narrower. How can the international community turn a blind eye to all this, I wonder…

In recent days, the value of the dollar against the Afghani has also risen; an event that directly affects people’s lives and purchasing power. Because the import of most materials is done in dollars.

Finally, it should be noted that ignoring women’s economic work and activity, removing half of the active population from the country, disregards the important principle that achieving economic re-construction and prosperity is not possible without them. Creativity in the economy, which can be created by the meticulous and precise thinking of women, is the best factor in eradicating poverty in Afghan society and contributing to socio-economic development. Also, this creativity is desirable as a factor for the economic maturity of the family in economic management.

The participation of members of society, regardless of gender, is one of the foundations of economic development of countries. The significant presence of women in economic, political, cultural and social planning can be considered as a precondition for development and save society from possible crises.

Due to the economic situation, women in Kabul and other provinces have repeatedly taken to the streets to protest and demand their rights. They chanted slogans such as “Hunger is not a joke”, “Bread, work and freedom”, “Bread for children”, and “Afghans need a piece of bread”, and called for addressing the humanitarian crisis, political and economic participation and women’s freedom of work.

Unfortunately, these protesting women have been responded to with guns, tear gas, lashes, arrests and imprisonment by the Taliban.

Since then, journalists covering the women’s protests were imprisoned and severely punished, women protesters in Balkh province have been arrested and imprisoned by the Taliban, other women from Kabul have been captured by the Taliban overnight and are still missing. Few women dare to leave. They did not do so on the roads, except in houses and basements with half-covered faces, whose identities were not revealed, and they continued their individual and collective protests.

The closure of universities and the denial of access to school for girls above the sixth grade can guarantee a critical situation for women for many years to come, as they pay huge damages for the loss of women in society every day. Women have been forced to settle for the role of mother and wife. Of course, the role of mother or wife is one of the basic and natural roles of women, but women must be able to achieve political, social, cultural and economic participation and be recognized as capable models of society.

Now a days the Afghan women are headline of international news broadcasts, but unfortunately most of funds and international opportunities are closed for Afghan women inside the Afghanistan. We are requesting from all the women outside the Afghanistan and international community, please don’t forget Afghan women and stand with them, raise their voice and be their voice.

*The writer hails from Balkh, Afghanistan, and has secured an MBA degree from SIU, Pune.

Related:

Afghanistan: Bullet riddled bodies of women activists found in Mazar-e-Sharif

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‘Taliban Are Unlikely To Reform’

Rights groups express solidarity with Afghanistan in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru

The post Afghanistan: Women, Economy and Taliban appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Around 500 people came together outside Savitribai Phule Pune University’s (SPPU) International Centre on September 10, 2021 to express support for the “national uprising” against the Taliban declared by resistance leader Ahmad Massoud.

Afghan students studying in Pune took permission from the university authorities to observe a protest at 3 P.M on Friday. Holding banners and posters, the youths wanted to declare that a Taliban government is not acceptable to the people of Afghanistan. Women protesters were also present at the venue. However, organisers had to postpone the event when local police told them they had to get permission from administrative authorities as well.

“The situation is tough for the people of Afghanistan. We wanted to raise our voice in support of Massoud’s call against the Taliban and Pakistan. But the police told us, we have to get permission from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO),” said organiser Ahmad Zia Rohani.

He further said that the Taliban does not allow women to leave their houses, disallowing their rights. The Afghan students oppose this vehemently. The loss of one million jobs in Afghanistan is also a great concern for the students in India, who worry about their student visa if their financial support from home is gone.

“I graduated a month ago. But in this situation, I can’t go back. We [students] don’t recognise this government [Taliban]. So, we request the Foreign Affairs Ministry to extend scholarships and visas for self-finance students as well,” said Rohani.

The lack of financial support for students has created difficulties in availing food, accommodation and educational facilities. Many students don’t have money to pay rent in the city. Earlier, the Afghan Students Association Pune (ASAP) approached the Maharashtra government to talk about the extension of visas and scholarships. Around August 29, members also sent letters to the FRRO and the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Delhi.

Rohani noted that on Friday, the FRRO’s website said students can extend their visa but did not provide details as to the procedure. The website says, “Afghan nationals living in India on any category of visa will be granted extension of visa by FRRO/FRO concerned on gratis basis until further orders. They will not be granted exit or issued leave India notice by FRRO/FRO concerned without prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs.”

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The post We do not recognise a Taliban govt: Afghan students in Pune appeared first on SabrangIndia.