Illustration by Sinta Maria Siby
If your heart ached while reading 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini, then imagine how distressing it must be to live in such a regressive setting. In a world where women's rights are overlooked even in the so-called progressive, developed nations, women's rights under an openly regressive rule like the Taliban's are definitely out of the question.
When the Taliban first came to power in 1996, the situation was heart-wrenching for women. Women were not allowed to go out without being accompanied by a man. They were forced to cover themselves entirely with a burqa, prohibited from wearing makeup, wearing heels, talking loudly in public, and visiting a male doctor for consultation. Brutal punishments like whippings and fines were in order for even the slightest violation of the dress code. On the whole, women were expected to fade into oblivion without giving anyone the idea of their existence. It was tough for women to access healthcare services because of the limited number of female doctors. They were banned from employment, and women who lost their husbands and mahrams (a mahram is a member of one's family with whom marriage is considered to be illegal) to war were forced into destitution. Education beyond the age of eight was made illegal. A few clandestine schools were set up, and girls were taught under the guise of sewing classes. Punishments upon the violation of sharia law were inhumane. Forced confinement, limited mobility and an air of constant fear worsened the physical and mental well-being of Afghan women.
The re-emergence of Taliban rule has heightened the fear among Afghan women.
The current Taliban rule started with the promise of inclusive governance. Yet, the absence of women in the existing cabinet is inconsistent with their words. Women are also prohibited from participating in cricket as it could lead to ‘unnecessary exposure’ of their bodies. A few Taliban officials are still wary of girls continuing their education after puberty.
It is painful to note that women in Afghanistan are protesting for something as fundamental as the right to work, study and walk on the streets. It is also interesting to note that the Taliban imposed backward laws stating that they aim to make women's lives dignified. The concept of dignity and honour from a patriarchal lens means blatant violation of fundamental rights for women. It also implies that women are viewed as possessions and not as humans with minds and desires of their own. It is 2021, and it is time that the world stops letting patriarchal ideologies guide administrative decisions.
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