The Taliban’s War On Women: A Nation’s Daughters In Peril – OpEd

Since the Taliban’s swift and brutal takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has experienced profound shifts in every facet of life, particularly for women. The collapse of the U.S.-backed government marked the beginning of a new, grim chapter for Afghan women, whose rights have been systematically stripped away.

Under the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law, women face unprecedented levels of repression, which have led to their near-total erasure from public and private life. The situation for women in Afghanistan is complex, shaped by a combination of cultural, religious, and historical factors that have entrenched patriarchal norms and restricted women’s roles in society. However, it is the recent, increasingly absurd measures enforced by the Taliban that truly highlight the extent of their control and disregard for women’s fundamental human rights.

One of the most striking examples of the Taliban’s misogynistic policies is the imposition of stringent rules on women’s visibility, even in their own homes. The Taliban have now taken the extraordinary step of banning windows that allow women to be seen from outside. This decree, dubbed the “window test,” mandates that homes should not have any windows overlooking places where women might be seen, including kitchens and courtyards. According to a Taliban spokesperson, “seeing a woman working in kitchens, in courtyards, or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts.” While it is absurd to claim that the mere sight of women going about their daily tasks can provoke immorality, this new rule reflects the Taliban’s obsession with controlling every aspect of women’s existence, even their private, domestic spaces.

These extreme measures follow a long list of restrictions that have been imposed on women since the Taliban regained power. Afghan women are no longer allowed to attend school beyond primary education, with secondary and higher education completely banned for girls. Employment opportunities for women have been drastically reduced, with the government ordering thousands of women to leave their jobs, especially in government offices. Women are not permitted to travel without a male chaperone, and they are forced to cover their faces fully when in public. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs has been dissolved and replaced by the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, a clear indication that the Taliban see women as subjects to be controlled, not as individuals with rights to be respected.

The Taliban’s strict rules are not limited to women’s mobility or education, they also extend to healthcare. Women in Afghanistan are prohibited from seeking medical care unless it is provided by a female healthcare worker. This restriction has led to a shortage of essential medical services, particularly for women who are already suffering from the devastating effects of the Taliban’s policies, including an increase in maternal mortality rates and a growing suicide epidemic among women. The country’s healthcare system, already fragile before the Taliban’s return, has been further crippled by the absence of women from the workforce.

The oppression of Afghan women under the Taliban is not only a violation of their rights but also a self-inflicted wound on the country’s economy. By excluding women from the workforce, the Taliban have effectively reduced the country’s labor force by half, plunging Afghanistan into deeper poverty. The economy, already suffering from decades of conflict and international sanctions, has been dealt a further blow by the systematic exclusion of women from key sectors such as education, healthcare, and governance. This gender-based discrimination is not only a moral failure but also an economic one, as it prevents the country from fully utilizing its human resources.

The international community has largely condemned the Taliban’s actions, but the regime has found ways to maintain its grip on power despite the widespread outcry. No country has officially recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, but the group has made significant diplomatic strides. Several countries have welcomed Taliban diplomats, and there have been discussions about removing the group from international terrorism lists. These diplomatic victories represent a troubling reality: while the international community continues to turn a blind eye to the horrors women face under the Taliban, the regime is gaining recognition on the global stage.

For Afghan women, this is nothing short of a betrayal. They are denied basic human rights, subjected to violence and oppression on a daily basis, and yet the world continues to engage with the Taliban as though they are a legitimate government. More than 300 women have been killed by men since the Taliban’s return to power, and over 840 women have been victims of violence. The Taliban themselves are often implicated in these crimes. The world’s failure to hold the Taliban accountable for these atrocities sends a chilling message to Afghan women: their suffering is invisible and irrelevant.

In addition to the physical and psychological violence they endure, Afghan women are also forced to confront the constant fear of being punished for even the smallest transgressions. Women who are found begging in the streets for food or money can be arrested, detained, and subjected to brutal treatment by the Taliban. The Taliban’s repressive measures have left Afghan women with little recourse but to retreat further into isolation, where they are often left to fend for themselves in a society that views them as little more than second-class citizens.

The question that many Afghan women are asking is simple yet profound: why are they being silenced and erased from public life? Are they not human beings? Are they not entitled to the same basic rights as men? The international community must not ignore the cries of Afghan women, who are living under a regime that seeks to strip them of their dignity, their rights, and their futures. The situation in Afghanistan may have become a forgotten war, but it is a war in which one group of people, Afghan women, continues to lose. The world must wake up to their suffering and take concrete steps to support them in their struggle for freedom and equality.

The Taliban’s treatment of women in Afghanistan is a grave injustice that must be confronted by the global community. If we continue to turn a blind eye to their plight, we are complicit in their oppression. It is time to stand up for the women of Afghanistan, whose voices have been silenced, whose rights have been stripped away, and whose futures have been stolen. Only by recognizing their humanity and supporting their fight for freedom can we hope to end the suffering of Afghan women.