Days after the Afghan women were banned from going to universities, another inhuman order issued to all local and foreign NGOs to stop female employees from working. According to their spokesperson Abdul Rahman Habib, employees of non-governmental organizations were not allowed to work until further notice because some had not adhered to Taliban’s administration interpretation of Islamic dress code for women.
Many of the foreign NGOs have suspended their services in the country amidst the situation. NGOs need female staff members to assess humanitarian need and identify beneficiaries, and their female staff is their source of access to half of the population. All humanitarian activities will be heavily impacted and the helpless Afghan nation would be left devastated.
This order will not only undermine the Taliban’s efforts to gain international recognition and hamper the economic crises of the country but also disrupt vital and life-saving assistance to millions. In the situations where the economic position of the country is on the verge to collapse and winter is about to grip the region, such baseless orders are merely idiotic expression of negatively conservative mindset.
The idea of Islam, presented by this specific group is a huge threat to the repute of religion Islam. Islam which means peace, Islam which preaches equality, fairness, and truthfulness, where removing a stone from someone’s pathway is rewarded can never be cruel to deprive anyone from their basic essential rights. The right to education is equally granted to both males and females in Islam, Similarly, the right to get treated and getting food, shelter and all basic needs is equal for all human kind. Depriving any of the living being from getting aid, banning them from educational institutions and attempting to suppress them is an utter violation of basic human rights which should not be taken lightly.
In a country like Afghanistan, most of the females working in NGOs are the bread-earners of their families and their income is the only source for them. If the orders are temporary, are there any arrangements made till the administration comes up with a solution? Have they started issuing grants or stipends to those who are losing their jobs after such devilish order? When nothing such arrangement is done, then how do they expect people to live till they come up with their “Islamic” code of dressing? I, being a Muslim, have studied Shariah and during all my study and research related to religion, I found the Islam as most positive religion accommodating exceptions and preaching tolerance. Unfortunately, the brain-washed conservative groups promote a negative picture of this peaceful code of life for their own political gains.
The excuse of dress code, as mentioned by Taliban administration, seems to be another attempt to ensure quiescent status of females in society. Their explicit discrimination towards females shows their macho mentality about being a hell of patriarchal mindset, committed to throw females away from all walks of life. I am quite sure they are unable to imagine the outcome of their orders against half of the population.
Few months ago, Mahsa Amini, a twenty-two-years old Kurdish Iranian woman was arrested by morality police who accused her of breaking the law requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab and their arms and legs with loose clothing. It is assumed that she was tortured during her detention and her head was banged against their vehicle, resultantly she collapsed and fell into coma and died. Her death had shaken the Islamic republic of Iran and many people stepped out to demand justice for Ms. Amini. I repeat what I said earlier, Islam preaches tolerance and forgiveness. Islam does not promote or preach killing a human just because they were not fully covered.
The outcome of Ms. Amini’s death was a huge eruption of rallies condemning morality police and women burned their hijabs, many cut their hair in public and hundreds, if not thousands did the same, across the globe in protest.
I fear the similar outcome in Afghanistan, not necessarily the rallies or burning hijabs, but it can be way more gruesome which may lead in uncontrollable chaos. Suppressed women will not stay suppressed for long, they wont die of suppression but they may come out rebellious and Afghanistan will not be able to handle it. A country with weak economy and unstable political system may result in a flat collapse if the women turn out rebellious and revengeful. The future generations in Afghanistan are under threat if they will be raised by oppressed mothers, who were banned from getting into universities, banned from work, and deprived of entertainment and leisure activities.
About the Author: The author is a co-founder of the PNI digital network and a student at Stockholm University, Sweden. Her field of study includes human rights, research and politics. She has been vocal about sociopolitical issues and participates actively in humanitarian causes.
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