By CALLIE WATSON
Staff Writer
Life for the women of Afghanistan has already started to drastically change. Since the Taliban takeover and US military withdrawal in mid-August, the women of Afghanistan are witnessing their rights disappearing. During a press conference, a Taliban spokesman stated that women’s rights will be respected “within the rights of Islam” and Sharia law. However, Afghan women are not buying it. It is well known that women and their rights are not respected by the Taliban. Based on the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law, women will not truly be equal to men. According to Sharia law, wives can be beaten, women have fewer rights in court, and are seen as less intelligent.
In some areas of Afghanistan, women are banned from leaving home without a male relative or are not allowed outside of their homes at all. Regarding that order, Zabiullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman said, “We are worried our forces who are new and have not yet been trained very well may mistreat women.” Men should not have to be trained not to mistreat women, proper treatment of women, or any human for that matter, should come naturally. Zabiullah Mujahid’s statement did not give women much hope for equal rights.
The Taliban’s acting minister of education said that female and male students would not be permitted to study together at universities. Many Afghans believe that this will lead to no education for females. During the US occupation of Afghanistan, many girls were able to safely go to school. Women were able to go college and pursue careers before the Taliban took over Afghanistan. Now the young girls of Afghanistan are watching their opportunities slip away from them.
Many women who were able to have careers during the US occupation, now fear for their lives. Women who formerly worked in the Afghan police force and government have been receiving frequent threats from the Taliban. The BBC reported that a female police officer, Beni Negar, was executed in front of her family. The BBC confirmed thatBeni Negar was eight months pregnant when she was executed. Some women have received numerous death threats. The Wall Street Journal reported that former police second lieutenant, Zala Zazai, has had many threats on her life. Ms. Zazai has gone into hiding. She is not alone in her hiding. The Wall Street Journal also reports that Nagina Anwari, a news anchor, has said that large numbers of female journalists have fled due to the Taliban. Women who are just trying to help provide for their families and do what they love are now in danger.
So what does the Taliban takeover mean for the women of Afghanistan? The Taliban takeover means less freedom and rights for Afghan women. The Taliban’s promise for women’s rights within Sharia law does not mean that Afghan women will still have the rights to education, to hold jobs, and speak freely.