What is happening right now in Afghanistan with the Taliban taking over after an absence of almost 20 years is a tragedy. But there is another tragedy underneath all that -- the plight of the women there.
Starting with their assumption in 1996 up to their ouster from Kabul in December 2001, the Taliban, essentially only a boys-only club, was keen on putting women in what they perceived was their place according to custom and religion.
To say women were oppressed under the Taliban is an understatement. They were essentially treated as property. They were not allowed to get an education, not allowed to seek treatment from a male doctor unless accompanied by a male relative, and they were married off even as young as 16 years old to fighters loyal to the Taliban.
For the women who lived under Taliban rule and saw their temporary ouster in 2001, the years without them must have been like a breath of fresh air.
But now they are back.
For now the Taliban has issued reassurances, telling the people that they have nothing to fear. They even went as far as to say they would respect women this time.
But should we believe the Taliban? They earlier said taking Kabul was not their priority, look what they did just a few days ago.
And because the Taliban doesn’t like its authority to be challenged, we have reason to believe they will fall into their old ways soon enough.
Now an entire generation of women, especially those who grew up without the Taliban, will have to struggle to understand why they are of lesser social standing than men.
They will have to be explained why they cannot go out of their house without a male relative supervising them. Why they cannot get an education. Why they have to shroud themselves in clothing that restricts, obscures, and obstructs.
Why they have to be married off to certain men even against their will.
Now there are reports that the Taliban are going house to house asking how many women are in each, and who are married or single. We do not think starting a dating service or offering marriage counseling is within their interests.
In all likelihood the situation of the Afghan women will take a backseat to the bigger overall picture that is the struggle to stabilize Afghanistan, a sad fact about women’s issues all over the world.
This is all the more reason we should call on those who can help them to do so.