Women in Afghanistan

By: Siddhi Wakdikar

Women's rights in Afghanistan have varied throughout history. Women officially gained equality under the 1964 constitution. However, their rights were taken away in the 1990s through different temporary rulers, such as the Taliban during the civil war.

Especially during the Taliban's rule, women had very little to no freedom, specifically in terms of civil liberties. Ever since the Taliban regime was removed in late 2001, women's rights gradually improved under the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and women were once again de jure equal to men under the 2004 constitution, which was largely based on that from 1964. Yet, their rights were still complicated by a reactionary view on women. In 2019, Afghanistan ranked 157 on the Gender Inequality Index of the total 162 countries.

The threat of violence has long been a harsh reality for many Afghan women: a survey by the

Demographic and Health program of USAID conducted in 2015 showed that 90% of women in some areas of the country have experienced violence from their husbands. Women who manage to leave their abusive partners and families frequently experience further abuse from those who we may think of as trustworthy, including the police, doctors and government officials.

Education in Afghanistan has gradually improved in the last decade but much more has to be done to bring it to the international standard. The literacy rate for females is merely 24.2%. Of the 9 million students in the country, about 60% are males and 40% are females. Over 174,000 students attend universities around the country. About 21% of these are females.

During its rule in 1996-2001, the Taliban was infamous all over the world for its misogynistic

practices and ruthless violence against women. Ever since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, there has been a resurgence of concerns for the wellbeing of women.

Historically, under the rule of the Taliban, Afghan women were forced to wear a burqa at all

times, only be in direct contact with men who were closely related to them, and receive

education (which only consisted of studying the Qur’an) only until the age of 8. The Taliban

imposed many other restrictions on women. The Taliban banned their presence on television, radio or other public gatherings, prohibited them from appearing in the balconies of their own homes, and advised them to speak softly in public for no stranger should hear their voice.

The punishments for women who were caught breaking were cruel and were often carried out in public. The women being punished were subjected to extreme violence: spontaneous public beatings and merciless severing of body parts. These often led to severe injuries and even death.

In October 1996, a woman had the tip of her thumb cut off for wearing nail varnish. In December 1996, 225 Kabul women were lashed on their legs and backs for violating the Sharia dress code.

The Taliban now states that it will respect women’s rights within the framework of Islam. It also states that women will be able to work and study and play an active part in society. Some Afghan women are willing to believe in the Taliban’s promises, while others think they are being lured outside and will be punished.

Taliban continues to brutally punish women who violate its policies. In August 2021, Taliban

militants killed an Afghan woman for wearing tight clothes and not being accompanied by a

male family member. During the recent protest of women in Kabul, Taliban militants have

resorted to violence.

As time passes, we must not turn our back on these women’s stories both before and after the Taliban came into power. Afghanistan is proof of just how fast human rights can be stripped away and our lives erased. We must continue to listen to what Afghan women have to say no matter what happens.