The Status of Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban (1400, 1401)
Women in the history of Afghanistan have been among the most vulnerable segments of society. Cultural weakness and societal backwardness have perpetuated a system of male dominance, with men exerting power in various ways to assert superiority and control over women. Women have consistently remained in social and cultural poverty, lacking opportunities for advancement. Due to widespread illiteracy among both women and men, awareness of their rights and each other’s rights has been limited, leading to deprivation of many human and social rights. Given Afghanistan’s traditional society and adherence to specific ethnic customs and norms, little importance has been placed on the role and status of women in political, social, or cultural affairs. Consequently, women have been unable to play any significant role in societal, cultural, or political affairs. Article 22 of Afghanistan’s 2004 Constitution explicitly emphasizes gender equality: “Any kind of discrimination and privilege among the citizens of Afghanistan is prohibited. The citizens of Afghanistan, including women and men, are equal before the law and enjoy equal rights and obligations.” Since 2001, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has openly made more than 2300 commitments regarding Afghan women or gender equality in laws, treaties, political agreements, and strategic documents. However, these statistics do not include numerous verbal commitments made over the past 14 years. The government has also emphasized its commitments to women’s interests, covering a wide range of areas, including education, health, internet services, and public awareness about women’s rights in Islam. Despite the government’s unequivocal verbal commitments, progress for women in Afghanistan falls short of their lofty goals. In 2021, following the hasty withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly seized control of the country and managed to establish an interim government in Kabul. Although the Taliban’s approach in the current regime seems softer compared to their first time in power in this country, and they have apparently not enforced harsh Sharia laws on the people, they have imposed numerous restrictions on women.
Keywords: Afghanistan, Women, Taliban.