The future is not as bright as it seems, every women’s fear of being forced and controlled has become a reality that has no bearing on their future. It’s a divided world of fear, while some women are living in the luxury of being and achieving, some are scraping metal, begging to see the sunlight. The bright future of equality is diminishing, and as far as everyone is concerned, most of those who are suffering and will continue to do so on the long-term are women from the third world countries, a label that holds them captive to their reality and their rights to be heard.
Afghanistan have gone through a lot of poltical changes that took hold of the domestic political situation and transformed it into an international model for the country’s governance. Every change within the country had its own unique history that goes back to decades of repression and oppression, making way for control and dominance to take charge of every household.
It is sad to say and watch how women in Afghanistan are being treated and exploited into the hands of the patriarch, a male dominant position who controls every aspect of a woman’s life and breath. Making her the obedient and silent servant that abides by the written rules and laws that never confirmed the governance and authority over them. When one asks, based on what jurisdiction and what influence are women being subjected to that kind of abuse?, the answer would always be “Sharia Law”. However, when one dives deep into the Islamic law, one would be notified about the equal share of life and the rights of both genders without empowering one over the other.
Neither Sharia Law, nor the Holy scripture of Quran affirmed and encouraged that kind of behavior between men and women. Segregation is not a mold that was ruled by in the scripture, and it has never influenced the way to treat women bitterly as if they’re slaves. The Holy Quran demands an equal share of life and opportunities for both men and women, leaving no space for segregation in this kind of matter. And taking religion as an excuse for such, is not just.
Ever since Taliban came back to rule, hardships and control have been set and taken on women. Women in Afghanistan are considered as moving wombs who are responsible for bearing a child, an entity that requires protection due to their weak embodiment and fracture. They are seen as commodities and slaves. Not actual souls who have the ability to flourish and thrive for more, seeking an equal opportunity of life and giving back to the community who would support their existence. That dream has long gone, and now came in the dysfunctional and dystopian era of every horror movie we watched and never anticipated, due to its brutality and lack of humanity.
It has been recently announced by Taliban’s government through the Minister of Education that women will be banned from going to school. Prior to that, another ban was issued which was not only based on the traditional modest clothing, but also the verbal and oral communication of women and their voices. As they were banned from talking loudly and attending public places without a male guardian, in those kind of situations, a guardian can be as young as a 10 year old child. As long as they’re identified as male, then they have the jurisdiction and full acceptance from the community to overpower his mother, sister and even other female elders within the family.
This is not protection, this is domination and restriction through the use of violence that is influenced by Holy words that never accepted this kind of violence and behavior against women. And one of the major factors to prove such an argument is the fact that the Holy Quran was not written using words that directly speaks to a specific gender, in fact the words used speak to every single human being, collectively as equals. Which is why using violence and control over women as a means to justify the word within the context of the Holy Quran will never be acceptable.
Afghanistan’s situation has left both men and women around the world devastated and in pain, not knowing what the future holds for every baby that will be born as a female. As every woman is enjoying her freedom, educational and entertainment stance, others pray to see the light through the window. It’s not the same and it will never be. The gap has been created and as long as no immediate intervention is being considered, women not only in Afghanistan, but all around the world, will continue to suffer and face the exact same fate of what used to be tales of horror told to little girls, forcing them into doing their homework and going to school.
As per every administrative decision being made by Taliban, UN women and other humanitarian organizations are considering a silent resolution. No condemnation has been issued and no help has been provided. And that leaves the global community with a definite answer of what’s yet to come for women in Afghanistan, and its complete darkness of a future that holds no promise and place for every human being who was and will be born as a “female”. It’s a way of saying that a women’s liberation is just part of the female imagination, as women belong in the kitchen cooking meals for every member of the household, and on the bed spending hours in pain, giving birth to a child who will overpower her existence just because it was born as a “male”. What a pride and joy is it to live in a world where slavery is slithering into our lives again, with no other option to help but nod our heads and shed tears of resentment and anger.
A woman’s voice is not taboo, a women’s body is not a temple to bear the pain of childbirth, and a woman’s life is not something that can easily be spared by male dominance. A woman is more than that. Women were born as a man’s equal. An equal in life, marriage, house and work. It’s not about overpowering one gender over the other, it’s more of an equal opportunity for both, an immunity of a dignified life that does not subjugate, but retaliates a fair and equal chance of being equal on planet earth.
It’s important to note that not every male is dominant, and not every household follows the above mentioned scenario. In fact, the world is changing and openness is something that is widely shared and respected. But justifying violence against women using the holy scriptures will never be acceptable and tolerated because this kind of inequality is not mentioned and encouraged through the scriptures. And aligning one’s own beliefs of what a woman should do and act through the use of holy books is seen to be a child play.
Women of Afghanistan are not just cases we read and will continue to read about in the future, thy are individuals with opinions and self esteem that shall be considered and regarded. Regardless of one’s gender, respect is an act of humanity, and equality is a sign of maturity. So let us all stand still and fight for human dignity
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