According to history, Afghans sustained reigns of terror and cruel regimes over the centuries. Fight for independence, eruption of civil war and finally the dictatorial regime of Taliban went down in Afghanistan’s history. Moreover, Mujahedeen’s armed conflict in 1994 which fomented ethnicity and sectarianism is one of the mind-boggling issues imposed on the country. Such untoward phenomena led the country to total destruction, displaced thousands of Afghan families and took many others’ lives. Therefore, our country took steps backwards and closed the door not only to democracy but also to modernity.

Mostly, democratic movements have been introduced a way to modernity. It is has been said that if we want to progress and take step towards modernity, embracing democracy is must. In other words, throughout the history, our kings introduced Western countries as role models for modernity and attempted to impose the same culture and tradition on the country. Such force-feeding made people vomit and revolt. I do not deny that a democratic government plays a crucial role in the progress and modernization of a country, however, applying the same custom and culture of a country in a second country, that has different values and norms, is a big blunder to be eschewed.

During the reigns of some kings, democracy sparkled in the country once in a while which mostly drew the condemnation of the public and extinguished forthwith. Moreover, at times when the kings themselves found their power in the risk of collapse, they suppressed the democratic parties. One may think that Afghans are against democracy, however, the immoral norms and non-Islamic values were the crux of disapproval. Hence, as Afghanistan is a traditional society, they wanted democracy in the frame of Islamic laws and their own cultural and moral values.

For further understanding, let’s put a glance over the history of Afghanistan. Amanullah Khan’s father, Amir Habibullah Khan who reigned the country from 1901 to 1919, was a relatively secular, reform-minded ruler he also attempted to modernize the country. During his reign he worked to bring Western medicine and other technology to Afghanistan. In 1904, Habibullah founded Habibia School as well as a military academy and he also built roads. He worked to put in place progressive reforms in the country. He instituted various legal reforms and repealed many of the harshest criminal penalties. Between 1901 and 1904, Habibullah Khan brought equipment for local industry. He also continued to improve communication and trade. He built new roads and demonstrated that travel was important.

During his sultanate, freedom and democracy were emerging gradually. Habibia High school had changed into a hotbed of liberal idea and egalitarianism. The egalitarian party asked for equality and legitimacy of the government. Amir found his reign in danger and changed his rule to a dictatorial regime. He hanged, imprisoned and threatened the egalitarians. Furthermore, he focused on luxury and lavished his attention on his family. He spent on his wives’ most expensive jewelries while the country was in poor condition.

In addition, Amir Amanullah Khan aimed to modernize the traditional society of Afghanistan, overnight. In 1919 after the 3rd Anglo-Afghan war, Amanullah Khan who was a pioneer and modernist king claimed the independence of Afghanistan. Soon after acquiring Afghanistan’s independence, he introduced a strong radical wave of modernization. When Amanullah made a trip to Europe, he was influenced greatly by their culture and modernity. He had returned from Europe in 1928 and brought with him many Western ideas, including social and cultural changes. Intending to modernize the country rapidly, he announced the same foreign culture in the Islamic and traditional country of Afghanistan for earning modernity. He also introduced foreign style of clothing in a speech. He asked Afghan men to put on pants and women to put aside their Islamic scarf. Amanullah Khan declared at a public event, “Islam did not require women to wear any kind of veil.” Moreover, the Queen, Soraya Tarzi, also gave speech and encouraged women to play their role actively in the political, cultural and educational fields. She also asked women to abandon their religious veil and then she tore off her scarf there. The wives of the ministers, who were a part of the royal entourage, mimicked her gesture and tore off their veils as well.

The role of Her Majesty, Soraya who was the daughter of a well-known and respected Afghan intellectual and poet, Sardar Mahmud Beg Tarzi, is highly worthy of mention. Soraya worked actively to liberate the women of Afghanistan, grant them their rights and encouraged them to participate in nation building. She set up the first women’s hospital and girl’s school in the country. As minister of education, she also arranged to send 18 young women to Turkey to seek higher education in 1928.

In one of her more famous speeches she gave at the seventh anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence from the British, she said, “It (independence) belongs to all of us and that is why we celebrate it. Do you think, however, that our nation from the outset needs only men to serve it? Women should also take their part as women did in the early years of our nation and Islam. From their examples we must learn that we must all contribute toward the development of our nation and that this cannot be done without being equipped with knowledge. So, we should all attempt to acquire as much knowledge as possible, in order that we may render our services to society in the manner of the women of early Islam.”

But on the one hand Soraya acted against the religious values and cultural norms of Afghan people and on the other hand, allegedly her photographs dinning with foreign men and having her hand kissed by foreign leaders, etc., were circulated among the tribal region of Afghanistan. This was seen as an affront and outright betrayal of Afghan cultural values and concept of honor. It further fuelled suspicion and discontent amongst the more conservative parts of the country.

Finally, Amanullah Khan’s democratic movement met failure and in 1928, many tribes and religious leaders revolted and he was obliged to leave his throne in 1929.

Hence, Afghan men and women would like to embrace democracy and freedom and also take steps towards modernity. However, still democracy must be in the frame of Islamic laws and social and cultural values.