Taliban Practice against Afghan Women, Employing Fresh Rules and Restrictions [part II]

Afghan women are now, however, expressing their disapproval online through videos of them singing songs about independence while covering their faces. One such song has the lyrics, “Let’s become one voice, let’s walk together holding hands and become free of this cruelty.”

The new directive was defended by Taliban government deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, who declined to take a seat across from me or be photographed with a woman. It was backed by numerous footnotes that contained references to religious literature. The supreme leader’s authorized law complies with Islamic Sharia law. Any researcher of religion can verify its references, he claims.

The teacher Shireen objects, of course. This is how they understand Sharia. Islam has granted men and women the freedom to decide whether or not they choose to further their education. Let us examine the past if those who argue against women’s voices being heard are to be believed. The number of women who have spoken up throughout Islamic history is enormous.

Female Political Activists in Afghanistan

Shireen is a member of a network of Afghan women who are subtly opposing the limitations by operating covert schools. Already having to relocate the school frequently out of necessity for safety due to extreme risk, the new law has made her worries even worse. She has to speak to us at a discrete place since there is too much risk of being discovered at home.

I pray to God every morning when I wake up for a safe and uneventful day. I gave my students a rundown of the new law’s regulations and warned them that things would get harder. But occasionally I just want to yell because I’m so tired of everything, she admits. They only view women as tools that belong in the home; they don’t see them as full human beings.

Karina, a psychologist who advises a network of covert schools, has already informed us that the limitations placed on Afghan women are causing a “pandemic of suicidal thoughts.”

She reports that she received an increase in calls for assistance following the announcement of the new law. This was my friend’s last message, she told me through message. She was thinking about taking her life. They believe all hope is gone and there is no reason in continuing living, she said. And counseling them is getting harder and harder.

I questioned Hamdullah Fitrat on the duty of the Taliban government to the women and girls in their nation who are being prevented from receiving an education, leading them to experience despair and thoughts of suicide.

The education of our sisters is a significant concern. We’re working to find a solution to this problem, which many of our sisters have demanded,” the spokesperson stated.

It has long been known from previous discussions with Taliban representatives that there are differences within the Taliban administration about women’s education, with some calling for its resumption. However, the leadership in Kandahar has been unyielding, and there hasn’t been any open defiance of the supreme leader’s orders.