The lives of women in Afghanistan after our troops leave.

When the US fully pulls out of Afghanistan it is looking quite certain that the lives and rights of women will once again fall under Taliban rule. The Taliban believe specifically, “the face of a woman is a source of corruption” for men not related to them.”

In a system sometimes referred to as gender apartheid, women were not allowed to work, they were not allowed to be educated after the age of eight, and were permitted only to study the Qur’an.” They also can not see a male doctor unless accompanied by a male relative. 80% of Taliban marriages are forced, sometimes involving women under the age of 16. Women are not permitted to speak loudly in public as “no stranger is allowed to hear a woman’s voice.” Women are not permitted to be on television, radio, or attend any public gathering. They are not permitted to ride a bicycle or motorcycle, ride in a taxi, and bus services are segregated as they are not permitted to ride a bus with men. Violation of these laws involves public flogging or execution.

So what can be done? There are several nonprofits that help improve the lives of these women. Some are listed here.

And there are plenty of resources to continue to stay informed:

https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/05/afghanistan-justice-system-failing-women
https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/articles/2021/policy-recs/protecting-afghan-women-and-girls.html
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/05/afghanistan-unravelling-of-women-and-girls-rights-looms-as-peace-talks-falter/
https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/taliban-impose-new-restrictions-women-media-afghanistans-north
https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/04/politics/intel-report-womens-rights-afghanistan/index.html