After the US withdrew its troops on August 15, 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. After the Taliban rule, the crisis and chaos in the country grew even more. All rights and freedoms were suspended one by one. The Taliban administration destroyed the living spaces of women and children in particular. Women were banned from going out on the streets alone and going to school, the “Ministry of Women” was closed down and replaced by the “Ministry of Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice”. In addition, women's rights were restricted in many areas from education to health. Children were either turned into laborers or soldiers of the Taliban. 

 

'TURNED INTO A PRISON' 

 

Evaluating the 3-year period, Shazia Shekib (name changed for security reasons), a member of the Revolutionary Women's Union of Kabul-Afghanistan (RAWA), said that women's rights have regressed even further after the Taliban. Shekib stated that in addition to the usurpation of the right to education, many women were left unemployed, and entertainment and sports areas were banned for women. “Women are confined to their homes and are not allowed to move around without a male guardian. Afghanistan has turned into a prison for women” Shekib said. 

 

Pointing out that women who oppose the prohibitions are subjected to violence and arrested, Shekib said: “Many women have been killed and their lifeless bodies were found abandoned on the roadsides. The Taliban sees women as the most worthless beings. Dozens of women are taken to Taliban officials every day. Their male guardians are asked to buy headscarves for them. They are asked to pledge that they will not leave their homes without wearing a headscarf.” 

 

Shekib pointed out that despite all the pressures, women have a serious reaction to the Taliban rule and said: “Women will never recognize such a misogynistic and murderous group. Afghan women have a deep hatred for this backward and brutal group and they will never allow them to rule as long as they live.” 

 

THE SITUATION FOR CHILDREN AND ACCESS TO HEALTH 

 

Pointing out that the economic crisis has deepened in the country in the last 3 years, Shekib noted that children are the most affected by this situation. “With the increase in unemployment and poverty, children were the first victims. They suffer from food and clean drinking water shortages. They are malnourished. These cause various diseases. In the health sector, we face a shortage of specialized doctors. Many experienced specialists have left the country. The medicines imported into Afghanistan are of poor quality and sold at high prices that most people cannot afford” Shekib said. 

 

UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY

 

Shekib said that minorities are also facing serious problems and added: “The Hindu minority fled the country in the first months after the Taliban took over. The Hazara minority faces arrests, bombings and suicide attacks every day. They live in constant fear. Many people remain in the country in the hope that the Taliban will disappear. Unemployment and poverty drive people to despair. They wander from morning to night in search of a piece of bread.” 

 

CALL TO THE PEOPLE

 

Shekib continued: “In the first days of the Taliban takeover, many people fled the country. Many of them lost their lives in the attempt to flee. Fleeing does not solve the problems. We call on the peoples of the world to stand with the people of Afghanistan, to condemn the warmongering policies of their own countries and to prevent the recognition of the Taliban government.”

 

AISHA: WOMEN ARE RESISTING

 

Aisha (name changed for security reasons), the press officer of the Purple Saturdays Movement, said that the gains made by women after 20 years of resistance after the Taliban were targeted one by one. Pointing to the bans, Aisha said: “Many universities and girls' schools have been closed. Women are largely banned from working in most sectors. While some women are still allowed to work in certain fields such as health, overall employment opportunities have been greatly reduced. Women face major problems accessing health care. Women have been pushed into poverty, losing their financial independence and ability to provide for their families. Laws against domestic violence and forced marriage have been weakened. Women's legal rights are severely restricted. Children and women are under threat of violence.” 

  

THE STRUGGLE FOR A 'SECOND AFGHANISTAN'

 

Saying that women are resisting and trying to create spaces for themselves despite bans and restrictions, Aisha said that women are “building a second Afghanistan”. “The society does not want to surrender to the Taliban, so they resist in different ways. The protests on the streets are very dangerous, but they are happening. They are acts of defiance, even if they are small, and they are valuable challenges. Underground training courses and schools for women have been opened. Women and girls continue to study here. Women express their resistance through poetry, writing and art. Women continue to work in secret. They work as seamstresses in their homes or set up small businesses in their basements” she said. 

 

Pointing out that solidarity among women stands out, Aisha said: “Women provide emotional and financial support to each other. They share resources. They create networks to help resist oppressive conditions. Women are also preserving their traditions through traditional dress, music and storytelling. This is a form of cultural resistance. Neighbors, relatives and friends often come together to share resources such as food, money or information. 

 

SOLIDARITY NETWORK 

 

Some families have moved from cities to rural areas where Taliban control may be less tight or where they have better access to family networks and agricultural opportunities. Rural life can be difficult, but for some it offers greater security and self-sufficiency. While open protests can be dangerous, many Afghans participate in small acts of resistance. This can involve women wearing slightly less restrictive clothing than is mandatory, people quietly spreading news and information, or participating in underground economic activities.” 

 

Emphasizing that the Taliban is a threat to the whole society, “Economic hardship under Taliban rule forces many children to work, often in dangerous conditions. In addition, we know that the Taliban recruit children for military purposes, exposing them to violence and trauma” Aisha said. 

 

MA / Berivan Kutlu