This article was written by Anastasia Kutselik of Richard Montgomery High School
According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the Taliban arose in 1999 from what was left of Afghanistan after the Russian Civil War. They worked with the Al-Qaeda, the same terrorist group that was responsible for 9/11, providing them sanctuary in Afghanistan. The Taliban did not believe women should have education and limited most rights of women, so men had more political power in the country. The Taliban restricts every aspect in a woman's life where possible, whether socially, educationally, or politically. Their restrictions on women are based on Islamic beliefs, but many Islamic countries do not think that the violent actions of the Taliban adhere to Islam[.
Women in Afghanistan thought they were gaining rights as the Taliban was kicked out by United States forces in 2001. The United States helped to rebuild Afghanistan, providing financial and governmental assistance. But after the Taliban gained back control in August 2021, women feared that their 20 years of gaining freedom would slowly slip away.
According to NPR, “...a couple of months ago, 28-year-old Shahrzad Mustafavi was a legal adviser for a World Bank-funded project… For now, that life is on hold.” This is a real example of how the Taliban is restricting women from working and having their own careers, as they do not want women to be involved with social, political or economic aspects of government.
During the previous rule of the Taliban in 2001, women grew up depending on males. According to the US Department of State, men were of a higher social status than women. Women under Taliban rule were often supervised and essentially “owned” by a male, and they could not be independent. For example, they could leave the house without a male figure escorting them to their destination.
Not only could they not leave the house as desired, they had no freedom in their dress as well. The Taliban forced all women to wear a burqa and also be fully clothed underneath it. Burqas are made from a thicker cloth and covers a person head to toe, only allowing a small slit for the eyes. They are also expensive for the budget of a common woman, straining women economically, as without a burqa they are caged at home.
As stated in Trust in Education, about 85 percent of Afghan women are illiterate and have no formal education. This is because the Taliban restricts women's access to education. Young girls are not sent to schools and are not allowed in them. Instead, they are expected to learn domestic tasks from their mothers and follow in those footsteps.
Some girls are homeschooled, but if they are, it is often in secret and they cannot put their knowledge to good use. Being illiterate strips them of their ability to advocate for themselves and be politically involved; but even if they could get education, women in Afghanistan are not allowed to hold political positions. The only job women can obtain is teaching male students in schools.
As mentioned in an NPR interview, Pashtana Durrani, who previously ran 18 schools, is now running an underground school for girls to get educated. These types of schools are illegal and could lead to death if they are discovered by the Taliban. Durrani states how it is concerning to have schools under these circumstances; she says it is a shame what life has come to for women. Pashtana also describes her life before Taliban rule to the young girls at her school in hopes that they will one day be able to have a similar life.
However, not all is lost for Afghanistan women and children as well. Many organizations like UNICEF are giving aid by providing shelter, vaccinations, medical care and education for fleeing families. Donating to organizations like these helps provide basic necessities for women and children in Afghanistan. Other ways that people can help is by writing to their local government to be able to bring in refugees to live in their state. Educating the community on Afghanistan issues will also gain better support for the cause. Resettling Afghan refugees will shield them from abuse and lack of rights and give them the better life that they deserve.
As the Taliban gained back rule of Afghanistan, they have started to restrict and cut off women from society. They deny their access to education, cut them off from all jobs except a select few, and strip them of all their basic rights. This was all in only the span of about a month or two, and all the freedom women in Afghanistan had before was poured down a drain. Yet women in Afghanistan are not completely hopeless as many countries are providing as much aid to them as possible and helping them leave their country.
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