The Plight of Afghan Women

     The oppresion surrounding the women of Afghanistan.  Their daily trials that they must deal with due to partiality toward Afghan males.  Also caused by certain organizations who have sought to take over Afghanistan in the past.

The laws of Afghanistan are very strict from girls to women can’t show there face, wrist or ankles.

Women have to do whatever the male says no matter the cost. They cannot leave without a man or approval from the husband.

It’s a very dangerous country because 1,000,000 of civilians carry fire arms. The defense force 52,000 guns. The police have 70,000 fire arms.

The country is also war-torn over 1,000,000 have died some Taliban have planted mines in many places and things like food and toys.

These people are sick and cruel but they only took the interperitation of their Bible differently.They think men are superior to women. They think women are their possessions. They think they should only keep the house clean and bear children. They don't educate their women because they think if there intelligent then the male won't be superior. That that would threaten the male dominance. They think to show that they're in charge they need to ingage in cruel acts. Also the reason no one can help them is the Taliban don't want to change their society. Finally they think men are closer to god. These people are diluted, sick and twisted but they only took the interperitation of their Bible differently, in a cruel way.

The Taliban started originating after the occupation of Afghanistan by the Russians in the eighties. Many young children were made orphans after the war and were taken in by many people especially as the students of Jamiat Wema-e-Islam, where they were raised to hate the goverment and the people who they beleived ruined there country. As they grew up they formed a small miltia of 30 soldiers, and first showed themselves in 1994 when they stormed a crime lord compound and killed every one in it and burnt it to the ground ( some people say the 30 men only shared 16 rifles and still managed to stop the crime lord ). They stayed as a militia until 1996 where a violent uprising put them in power of the goverment and established brutal and totalitarian rule over 90% of the country. The Taliban's cruel rule over the country lead to a downfall in 2001 where they lost control of the goverment and were pushed out of the capital city by the U.S. army. The Taliban operated as an insurgency in large parts of the counrty showing that they still did control some of the country.

The Burqa is a long, tent-like garment, which the Taliban had decreed women must wear whenever they go outside. It covers them completely and even has a narrow mesh screen over their eyes. The Burqa comes in : navy blue, black, burgundy, light pink, red, white, orange, gold, green, saddle brown and cotton blue. Not all women find the Burqa oppresive. Many women in India and Pakistan, where it is not required to wear the Burqa, still wear it. Some wear the Burqa by choice. The Burqa has been around for centuries. It falls under the category of Hijab. Hijab means vail. That is an article on the Burqa.

     There are many things that Afghan women are not allowed to do.  Among these things are choosing marriage mates, voting, working and their right to inheritance has been taken away.

     There are many organizations that have tried to take over Afhghanistan in the past.  Among these organizations is The Taliban.  Under Taliban rule, women were forbidden to work, could not leave their houses alone, they were not allowed to seek medical help from a male doctor and they were forced to wear the all-covering Burqa.  After all this their financial situation diteriorated greatly.  Some women were forced to be beggars and even prostitutes in order to provide for their families.

     After the five-year-long Taliban rule the political and cultural position of Afghan women has improved substantially.  Men and women now have equal rights.  Included in this privelege, women have been allowed back to work, no longer are forced to wear a burqa and have even been appointed to prominent positions in government.  However, repression is still prominent in some rural areas.  They are still forced into marriages and numerous schools for girls have been burned down.

There are several organizations that are helping with this issue.  A couple of those are RAWA(Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) and AWO(Afghan Womens' Organization).  RAWA is the oldest organization made for Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and Afghan womens' rights since 1977.  Their founder, Meena, was a victim of martyrdom in 1987.  Their slogan is "If you are a freedom-loving, anti-fundementalist, you are with RAWA.  Support and help us."  AWO works with refugees and imigrants, and those who have experienced wars and persecution with a special focus on women and their families.  Its mission is to improve their quality of life and to promote their social and economical inclusion in order to enable them to become contributing members to Afghan society and to live in dignity.

*Every 30 mins. an Afghan woman dies in childbirth

*87 percent of Afghan women are illiterate

*A mere 30 percent of Afghan girls have access to education

*1 in every 3 Afghan women experience physical, psycological and sexual violence

*44 years is the average life expectancy rate for Afghan women

*70 to 80 percent of Afghan women face forced marriages

The Taliban have made the life of women in Afghanistan miserable. The Taliban have made the women wear Burqa's which you  have already learned about. Also you have learned about how the Taliban have gotten together. Also what they think and why they do what they do. Also the limatations of Afghan women and the laws the Taliban have put into action. So what we are saying is these people have to live like this every day and we need to free Afghan women.