Women; Afghanistan is Half-Paralyzed

Women rights activists say that following the recent political developments in Afghanistan, women, who are half of the society, are now locked at home and are no longer present in the patriarchal society of Afghanistan. These women claim that society will never be built without the presence of women. According to them, the Taliban should not ignore women’s rights to education, work, and legal activity.

Sana, a member of the civil society, says that women’s rights have been violated, they have been barred from going to university, working in public and private institutions, as well as appearing in an open society.
“Women’s rights are violated, not respected at all, and women are barred from going to university, from working in government offices, and most women are currently unemployed. Many women are breadwinners but are currently being barred from working and studying,” said Sana.
According to her, women are half of society. Without women, no country can achieve independence and popularity. If the Taliban do not recognize women’s rights, we will see a disappointing country. All ethnic groups should have a share in the government.

Setayesh Azimi, another activist, believes that women are not being barred from their rights, they have no right to be deprived of it.
“In the Afghan society, most of the women do not have the right to live. Most of the anti-civil rights oppressions are not done to women because they do not have any right from the very beginning of their life. They are being told not to study, do not work, you have to get married,” she added.
Satayesh believes that people, both men, and women, can only achieve their rights through education. According to her, rights are not granted, you have to achieve them. We can achieve our fundamental rights only when we would be aware of them.

Roqiya Haydari, a university student, expressed dissatisfaction with the Taliban’s treatment of women, saying that women in the government of the Islamic Emirate had been forgotten.
Madina Yusufi, another civil society activist, says that it is not only women’s rights not being respected in Afghanistan, but also the rights of men, children, young people, and even the elderly.
“As we see, human rights are not respected, neither the rights of women nor the children. No one allows women to work, girls’ schools are closed. Children who should go to schools are selling handicrafts and plastics. The Taliban do not accept women at all, ignoring their rights. Women are part of this society,” Madina explains.

Mohammad Anwar Panahi, a university professor and civil society activist, meanwhile, says the main reason why the Taliban do not allow women to enjoy their rights is due to the Islamic Emirate’s inaccurate information about women.
According to him, forces of the Islamic Emirate think that women activists are pro-western civil society and follow western ideas. If they are allowed to work, they will promote western values in the Afghan society while it is a wrong imagination.
With the fall of the previous government, women were expelled from government offices and not employed in private sectors, too.