The Humanitarian Catastrophe in Afghanistan under Taliban Rule: Lack of Education and Work Opportunities for Women

2023-08-14 22:01:48

Today is the second anniversary in Afghanistan of the day on which the radical Islamic Taliban seized power once more following two decades. On August 15, 2021, they stormed the presidential palace in the capital Kabul and took control following the hasty retreat of international troops. To this day, their government is not recognized by any country, and Western embassies have left the country.

The Taliban have declared the day a public holiday – but most people in the country have little reason to celebrate. The whole country continues to suffer from a humanitarian catastrophe. Despite the announcement of more moderate rule than during their regime between 1996 and 2001, Taliban rule has recently become more authoritarian and patriarchal.

Women and girls are largely excluded from public life. They are no longer allowed to work in many areas and are no longer allowed to enter parks, gyms and hairdressing salons. Above all, access to education is severely restricted. From the age of ten, girls are no longer allowed to go to school.

Taliban spokesman denies work ban

In an ORF interview, Taliban spokesman Ahmad Wali Haqmal denies that there is a ban on education or work. He himself studied human rights, which changed his life. “I understood that countries that see themselves as guardians of human rights violate them themselves.” There are many examples of this, he said, without naming any.

As a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, he would rather talk regarding the economy and finance. The rules drawn up by the Taliban only apply to Afghans and have nothing to do with economic relations. Foreigners should not interfere. “The world is politicizing all issues, including internal affairs of Afghanistan, it is keen to talk regarding it and change it.”

There are only “a few very special places” where women are not allowed to work. “The markets are open, everything is open, men and women work everywhere. Schools and universities will soon be open once more – for everyone,” says Haqmal. However, women are currently prohibited from doing a large part of the professions. In December last year, for example, the Taliban instructed all domestic and foreign non-governmental organizations to stop hiring employees.

Amnesty: Taliban ‘a bunch of liars’

One cannot trust such announcements, agrees Afghan-born Samira Hamidi from the human rights organization Amnesty International. The Taliban are “a bunch of liars who don’t believe women and girls should be allowed to educate themselves”. At first she still had hope. Two years later, Hamidi, who has since fled to the UK, “literally has none.”

Afghanistan has fallen behind by twenty years, the West is looking the other way. “The greatest failure of the international community is to have failed Afghan women and girls. Millions of girls have lost two years of their lives and will grow up without an education if this continues.”

The background is that foreign donors wanted to avoid direct financial support for the Taliban. But this also has drastic consequences for the health system: due to a lack of funds, medical care is on the verge of collapse, Sara Chare from Doctors Without Borders in Afghanistan recently told ORF.at.

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