Afghanistan Women - Living in Fear

CNN recently reported on the horrors Afghanistan women still experience, 2 years after the first legislative elections noted the inclusion of women as voters, candidates, and elected members. The CNN reporter described how women are still sold into slavery as early as age 7, become beggars, set themselves on fire to escape family abuse, plus many other injustices. Why?

From 1996 to 2001, the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. During their reign, women were treated worse than in other time or by any other society in the history of this professed Islam country. The Taliban enforced many rules on Afghanistan women.

Women were banished from the work force. Girl's schools were closed and women were expelled from universities. They were not allowed to leave the house without a male relative as escort. The windows of their houses were painted black and they were made to cover themselves from head to toe, even their eyes, using what is called a "burqa." Women could only be examined by female doctors and nurses while at the same time, these were prohibited from working. Women's health deteriorated rapidly and some died due to lack of adequate medical care.

Any infractions of the above Taliban decrees brought punishment and even death. Punishment came in the form of beatings, public floggings, stonings, and even hangings. Often these punishments were carried out in public, in front of the woman's family and friends. Anyone trying to intervene would also be punished or killed. Children had to watch as their mother or sister was horribly beaten or worse.

In October 2004, Hamid Karzai won the election for President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Legislative elections were held in September 2005 and the first session convened in December of that same year. The country is struggling against poverty, illegal drug trade, Taliban insurgence, and much more. Although women's rights have been reinstated, many still find the rules established by the Taliban still hold a grip on their society.