In Afghanistan, the rights of women have always been a point of contention. From ancient times to the present, the struggle for gender justice has been marked by both progress and set-backs. While significant strides were made in the 20th century, particularly in the 1970s and under the leadership of reformist rulers, these gains have been undone by the resurgence of the Taliban’s oppressive regime.
Under the Taliban’s rule, women have been systematically denied their basic rights. Policies banning women from education, work, and public life have returned with a vengeance. This includes a recent ban on women studying medicine, further reinforcing the regime’s misogynistic ideology. Women are not only restricted from professions but also from engaging in basic societal functions like traveling freely or even speaking in public. Public executions and punishments, such as stoning or whipping women for perceived moral transgressions, have also resurfaced.
Historically, Afghanistan saw periods of female empowerment, especially during the reign of Emir Amanullah in the 1920s and King Zahir Shah’s rule in the 20th century. Women made significant strides in education and public life, with Kabul becoming a center for women’s education and social reform. However, the arrival of jihadist forces and the influence of conservative religious ideologies led to the reversal of these gains.
The Taliban’s return to power has brought a complete dismantling of these advancements. Despite the promises of change following the 2001 intervention, Afghan women continue to be oppressed under the guise of religious piety. The world’s silence in the face of this systemic gender apartheid is a reminder that women’s rights often remain on the periphery of global concerns.
Afghanistan’s story is a tragic one—a tale of brief progress overshadowed by the return of brutal and regressive policies. The country’s women have once again been betrayed, and their rights erased in the name of tradition and religion.
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