Freedom means you can do everything that you love or want and can make decisions for yourself. Freedom is beautiful, everyone wants it, and everyone deserves it. Unfortunately in Afghanistan, people don’t have this basic right. After August 15th, 2021, the Taliban government attacked Afghanistan for the second time after 20 years. After the regression of American and NATO soldiers, they captured the country city by city. The president of Afghanistan left the country leaving its people behind. This change of government had a bad impact on people who lived in Afghanistan, especially on women’s lives. Returning this government suppressed women by blocking educational centers, limiting occupational opportunities, and curbing civic and individual rights.
First of all, the Taliban government deprived women from their right of pursuing knowledge. Only girls under grade seven are allowed to go to school and higher grades at schools and universities have been closed. The only option that girls could study was private foundation, but the Taliban closed these centers also after three years. Now, girls have two choices: either stay at home or study in course.
There are a few opportunities to study, such as online courses, but it has its own problems. For example, lack of good and fast internet connection, lack of electricity, and poverty that families are not able to help or support their daughters to provide facilities in order to study online. So, this is a big challenge in the way of improving.
Secondly, job opportunities have been limited. The Taliban have not allowed women to work in government or have political participation since 2021. Most women became jobless. Some of them immigrated to other countries since they knew they were in danger. Others are still in Afghanistan, without jobs and live under shade of fear. Women form 50% of the population in each society; when women cannot participate and are not given a voice, neither the community improves nor the poverty declines.
Third, this government created an organization by the name of “Amr-e-Ba Maarof”. This organization ordained some difficult regulations which women should obey. Otherwise, they would be beaten. Now women can’t go to other provinces alone, one man should be with them, like their father, brother, husband or son. Women should wear Hijab according to this government’s orders. Even women are not allowed to go to parks, stadiums, and public bathhouses. Women in Afghanistan do not have access to freedom and live according to the will of this government. Finally, this situation can develop extremism and fanaticism.
In conclusion, the change of government has forced women into difficult situations. The government ‘s policies deprived women from their basic rights, for example, education, occupation, and social democracy. The existence of these facilities for women can be efficient to have a civilized and developed country. Otherwise, poverty, war, and illiteracy will govern in Afghanistan.
– Jalila
Letter received from our students participating in our Mentorship program. Name and text altered for protection of our students and for grammatical changes.
