How the Taliban Takeover Has Affected Women's Rights in Afghanistan
The terrors, violence, and distress following the egress of the United States and the Taliban takeover have flipped the life of every Afgan. In a matter of days, moments even, a country that was once growing in education and rights, had been stripped of all progress. The Taliban has specifically deprived women of their rights; groups that were finally receiving access to adequate education, freedom of expression, and even the ability to walk the streets with minimal fear, have been put back to the restrictions that ruled Afghan women decades ago. But before we dive into the affect that the Taliban's takeover has had on women, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the history of the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan.
The Taliban first took control of Afghanistan following the disturbance that followed the retreat of the Soviet Union in 1989, who originally entered in an attempt to spread communism. Through barbarous and public punishment, the Taliban, after several months, obtained rule of the vast majority of Afghan land. During this time of the ruling, the Taliban enforced extremely strict rules based on their interpretation of the Quran, which is derived from Deobandi Islam and is widley regarded. Furthermore, the Taliban expressed zero tolerance for contracting religious practices. Essentially, they dictated every aspect of Afghanistan citizens' lives. During the Taliban's first reign of power, Al Qaeda, the terrorist group responsible for 9/11, found refuge under the Taliban regime, and the attacks on the World Trade Center prompted the entrance of the United States into Afghanistan. In days, the United States military along with its anti-Taliban allies wiped out the Taliban, and those who survived fled to Pakistan. Following this defeat in 2001, the Taliban continued to grow as a new guerrilla army in Pakistan, where they have formed one of the world's most powerful armies. After the United States two decades in Afghanistan, over 2,000 American soldiers were lost, 2 trillion dollars were spent, and over 10,000 Afghan civilians were murdered, Trump promised American forces would exit Afghanistan by mid-2021.
Today, American troops have pulled out of Afghanistan, and the Taliban has re-entered, once again establishing their reign of terror and elimination of freedom. So what does this return mean for the Afghan woman?
Since the U.S removed the Taliban the first time, women's opportunities and rights have made monumental strides inconceivable under the Taliban reign. Despite the Taliban’s promise to not diminish or even restrict the rights of women, based on past rulings and their interpretation of Islamic values that act as the core of the Taliban, Afghan women are wary of conceding to this promise. In the 20 years, the US has maintained control of the Talbian, they have raised millions of dollars for women's rights through funding the implementation of women in the workforce, military force, political power, etc. During their last rule, the Taliban banned women from leaving their homes without a male escort, women taking part in the workforce, banning schooling for girls, mandating clothing, and inflicting harsh punishments for groups who disregard these restrictions. But already since the United States egress, the Taliban has taken strides that contradict their inclusive face towards women. Women have been instructed to be constantly accompanied by a male relative when outside their home. At universities, police are blocking female students and teachers alike from entering the institution. Women's clinics are closed. Women are no longer allowed And women are back to wearing head-to-toe traditional gear, not out of personal religious devotion or choice, but out of fear.
Fear.
Fear is what controls the women of Afghanistan under the Taliban's rule. Fear is what forces women to go against their faith and dress certain ways, sing certain songs, and pray certain prayers. Fear is what forces women out of their workplace. Fear is what the Taliban has. The Taliban has used their power—status, history, money—transformed it into fear, and executed their threats violently, without mercy. And so, the Afghan women who have worked passionately for the past two decades are once again thrown on the ground, fighting just to get back up without any support and an abundance of distress.
By Ruby Kaufman