Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

The Gross Inequality

Amidst vague and unclear negotiation process with Taliban leaders and approaching deadline for foreign military withdrawal, there are worrying reports about the democratic achievements of Afghan women. Human rights activists are worried that weaknesses of the government do not lead the country towards further chaos and instability where women rights would be compromised.

Years of civil war and prevalence of dogmatic Islamic mentality after years of Jihad against USSR dealt huge blows to over all standings of women in the society. Their role step by step declined and finally they fell down to an absolute state of second rate citizens.

Prior to the invasion of USSR, at least urban women used to enjoy relatively convenient social, cultural and political status in comparison to neighboring countries. Unfortunately, everything changed after the Red Army invasion, which provided the situation for radicalization of the society. Common people were chuffed that they fought for the sake of Allah, but they fell into the mouth of a far dangerous ideology.

So, the consequence of such a project without provision of a democratic alternative was clear even in those days. The same people who knew nothing of human rights and human dignity came to power. The first and foremost victims were Afghan women. Even their most basic and essential rights were withheld.

Such climate ruled for absolute three decades, which is enough time to change the entire social relations and even the ethics of the community.

Presently, Afghan women are wrangling with challenges created during those tragic periods. Now looking to the state of Afghan women in constitution and their presence in political procedure is so promising. But their rights cannot be judged only on the political basis. Many other measures should be taken in order to restore their rights like that of social and cultural ones.

Now even in the capital Kabul, university and schools girls are anxious to walk alone in the streets of Kabul during day time. They are regularly teased and harassed by male citizens for ignorable reasons, for example, the style of clothing, make-up, and, frequently, without any reason.

Thus, to break these cultural and traditional chains, the necessity of education and cultural advancement is far critical then approving new laws. What the state can do is holding programs which are effective in weakening of such moorings and chains. Along with the state, civil society has also large responsibilities to deal with those challenges, in order to empower the fragile standing of Afghan women.