Afghanistan has once again become a dangerous place for women as the Taliban gains control of the country. The Islamic extremist militia seized Afghanistan's capital city on August 15, however, the situation was fast deteriorating even before the fall of Kabul, aggravated by the planned evacuation of all foreign military personnel and decreasing international aid.
Now, the land control will eventually lead to a harsh regime of totalitarian dictatorship and gender apartheid, in which women and young girls will be deprived of their basic human rights.
Deteriorating condition, particularly for women
Taliban leaders have stated publicly that they wish to offer women's rights "according to Islam." However, this has been received with widespread scepticism, particularly
among Afghan women leaders.
The United Nations stated in July that the number of women and girls killed or injured in the first half of the year had nearly doubled compared to the same period the previous year.
Several allegations have surfaced in recent weeks claiming that the Taliban has issued orders for men and women, including what they can wear, what is allowed and what's not.
Girls have been barred from attending school and their freedom of movement has been curtailed. Forcible weddings have also been reported.
To protect themselves from the Taliban, women are once again putting burqas and threatened to delete proof of their education and lives outside the home.
In the northern province of Balkh, the Taliban reportedly murdered a young woman for wearing tight clothing and without being accompanied by a male relative.
According to reports, Taliban insurgents shot and killed a 21-year-old woman in the terrorist group's controlled village of Samar Qandian.
Taliban announced new laws and regulations in July after conquering districts in Afghan Takhar region, including prohibiting women from leaving home without a male relative and requiring
men to grow beards.
Past two decades
The situation for women and girls drastically improved after the Taliban's fall in 2001, however, these advances were only limited and fragile.
The new government ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 2003, which mandates that states adopt gender equality into domestic law.
“Citizens of Afghanistan, man and woman, have equal rights and duties under the law,” according to the Afghan Constitution of 2004. In the meantime, a law was passed in 2009
to protect women against forced and underage marriages, as well as violence.
According to Human Rights Watch, the law resulted in an increase in the reporting, investigation, and conviction of violent crimes against women and girls.
While the country has progressed from nearly no girls in school to tens of thousands attending university, it has been sluggish and unsteady. According to UNICEF, 60 percent of the 3.7
million Afghan children who are out of school are girls.
Social media flooded with pleas for help
Many educated Afghan women have gone to social media to get help and vent their frustrations.
On Twitter, Afghan photographer Rada Akbar wrote, "With every city falling, human bodies collapse, dreams collapse, history and future collapse, art and culture collapse, life and
beauty collapse, our world collapse."
Noted Sahraa Karimi, an Afghan filmmaker, has written an open letter to the world, urging it to recognise the consequences of the Taliban's quick conquest of Afghanistan.
Karimi asked for filmmakers and women, in general, to be protected from the violent terrorists who have taken over the country.
Karimi asked the film community to join her in “protecting my beautiful people, especially filmmakers from the Taliban” in her message.
Karimi urged members of the entertainment industry to help spread the word. “Please support your filmmakers and artists as our voice, share this fact with your media and write about us on your social media. The world does not turn towards us. We need your support and voice on behalf of Afghan women, children, artists and filmmakers. This is the biggest help we need right now. Please help us not to leave this world to the Afghans. Please help us before the Kabul Taliban comes to power. We only have a few days.”