Taliban 2.0: The Resurgence of Societal and Gender Discrimination in Today's World

‘They were calling me a prostitute [and] a bitch… The one holding the gun said, ‘I will kill you, and no one will be able to find your body.’ In 2022, a female university student faced a chilling confrontation with a member of the Taliban. Her “crime”? Traveling alone without a male companion is a direct violation of the stringent mahram restrictions imposed on women. This encounter serves as a stark reminder of the oppressive realities many Afghan women endure due to the Taliban’s reign, which some people may not know began before their return in 2021.

The Taliban emerged from a madrasah in Kandahar and gained prominence by defeating a local warlord, promising security and stability in a war-torn Afghanistan. Their religious beliefs appealed to a populace seeking hope in chaotic times. This power grab amid national instability mirrors historical events like the rise of Nazi Germany and Lenin’s Russia. The struggle of women in Afghanistan highlights the human cost of political upheaval.

After the September 11 attacks in 2001, the Taliban’s refusal to surrender Osama Bin Laden led the U.S. and its allies to launch a military campaign. Partnering with the Northern Alliance, they secured a decisive victory by December 7, 2001, but this was just the start of a challenging journey.

By 2020, the U.S. was considering a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan, relying on Taliban promises to halt attacks on American forces and prevent extremist groups like ISIS from gaining a foothold. The hope was that this agreement would enhance global security. By August 2021, nearly twenty years after their initial involvement, American troops left, profoundly affecting the lives of over 20 million women as instability returned. Despite initial hopes for a more moderate Taliban regime, it quickly became clear that optimism was misplaced, with nine ministers from the original Taliban government reappearing in their new rule.

This new political and legal system is rooted in what the Taliban, also known as the ‘Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,’ claims is ‘Sharia Law’. They base this system on four foundational pillars: first, the Quran, regarded as the word of Allah; second, the Sunnah, which encompasses the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad; third, Ijma, or consensus, which is invoked when the Quran and Sunnah provide no clear guidance on a matter; and finally, Qiyas, a principle that leans on personal opinion as the last resort for legal rulings when previous sources fall short.

Despite the Taliban’s assertions of adhering to Sharia law, their interpretations have drawn sharp criticism from numerous Muslim-majority countries and organizations, notably the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Established in 1969, the OIC was created to protect the rights and interests of the Islamic community worldwide. Over the years, it has strongly denounced numerous actions taken by the Taliban, particularly their ban on women’s education—one of many restrictions faced by women in Afghanistan.

Despite widespread condemnation from the international community, the Taliban remains steadfast in its oppressive rule, particularly impacting the rights of women in Afghanistan. The policies of the Taliban stand in sharp opposition to the human rights principles championed by the UN and embraced by numerous other Muslim nations. This stark contrast has led the United States and several Western countries to withhold recognition of the Taliban’s government, leaving the regime isolated on the global stage. This lack of international acknowledgment doesn’t just cut the Taliban off; it also poses significant barriers to the support that Afghan women desperately need. As the situation unfolds, the women find it increasingly challenging to seek help and advocate for their rights, caught in a web of restrictions that stem from the international community’s reluctance to engage with the Taliban.

The urgent need for support from international organizations and countries arises from the alarming treatment of women under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Since the moment they returned to power in August 2021, the Taliban has slowly stripped away the rights of women, despite their claims of promoting human rights.

In those initial weeks, we saw the stark reality unfold: women were ordered to stay home because Taliban soldiers were deemed “not trained to respect women.” This was just the beginning of a tumultuous path. By September of that year, the situation deteriorated further as girls were banned from secondary education and women were effectively shut out of the workforce. The Taliban insisted these measures were temporary, but by March 2022, women remained barred from schools. They were additionally prohibited from entering health clinics, traveling beyond 72 kilometers, or going abroad without a male guardian or ‘mahram.’

As the months passed, the situation only worsened. By November, women found themselves excluded from public spaces like parks, gyms, and even all-female bathhouses. Just weeks later, the ban on women working for NGOs took effect, further limiting the assistance available to them. With universities closed to female students, the only education left was at the primary level, and even private courses were deemed illegal.

Fast forward to April 2023, and women were barred from working with the United Nations altogether, further tightening the support available to them. May brought even more distressing news: women could not register for the completion exam to become doctors. This is particularly devastating since male doctors are prohibited from treating women in Afghanistan, creating serious barriers to healthcare access.

By August 2024, the Taliban introduced a new ‘vice and virtue’ law, consisting of 35 articles. While it superficially applies to both genders, it’s evident that women bear the brunt of its restrictions, as the Taliban has now banned women from having their voices heard in public. Additionally, this law criminalizes disobedience to parents, a law that also affects women more than men in Afghanistan due to the gender roles within homes.

In Afghanistan, women are living under harrowing conditions, governed by laws that can lead to jail time or brutal punishments since the Taliban’s return. Public floggings and executions have resurfaced, with over 200 women suffering humiliation for offenses like leaving home alone or speaking to unrelated men.

Many women try to escape abusive relationships, but are often tracked down by husbands or family, as legal systems view gender-based violence as a family matter. Fear of retaliation is widespread, as women risk harm for shaming their families. This situation, exacerbated by the Taliban’s rule, highlights the deeply rooted cultural beliefs about gender roles in Afghanistan, making the quest for safety and dignity dangerous.

Many women in Afghanistan have faced this reality. One girl, Rabia T., is a 20-year-old woman whose story sheds light on the harsh realities women face in Afghanistan. Growing up in a conservative family, she has experienced firsthand the restrictive rules imposed not only by the Taliban but also by deeply entrenched gender roles within her own home.

One day, while visiting her family without her husband, she greeted her male cousin, a seemingly innocent act that sparked a strong reaction from her brother. He threatened her, she recalls, “the same day, my brother kept saying he would kill me.” Rabia fled from home, fearing she might be killed. Unfortunately, her escape was short-lived; she was soon found and arrested for zina, an accusation that underscores the perilous landscape for women in her country.

Rabia’s experience illustrates a painful truth: the struggle for women’s rights in Afghanistan is not solely a result of the Taliban’s rule. In many cases, it is the very family members who should offer love and protection who become the enforcers of societal oppression.

At just 18, Malalai H. faced a harrowing experience when she invited a boy she had been seeing to her home in 2011. Despite her clear refusal, he forced himself upon her, disregarding her boundaries. Fearing her family’s severe reaction, she chose to flee, believing staying would mean death. “I knew they would kill me, so I thought it was better to commit suicide,” she recalled, a testament to her despair. Unfortunately, her escape attempt led to her arrest. Even after such trauma, Malalai still wanted to marry the man who had harmed her.

This is a disturbing reality for many women in Afghanistan, where societal norms and family expectations tightly control their lives, revealing a complex web of law and gender roles that stifle their freedom and agency. The Taliban have significantly impacted the lives of women in Afghanistan, but their situation is also shaped by deep-seated societal beliefs. Asif Rahim, who emigrated to Ireland, reflects on these issues, particularly within his own family. “They have held onto these ideas and values,” he states, highlighting his sister’s struggle. At seventeen, she felt the weight of their expectations as his parents were “restricting and controlling what she can and can’t do…”, leading her to make the painful choice to leave. Asif hasn’t seen or spoken to her in over a decade, a reminder of the struggles many women face, both in Afghanistan and within their families.

The struggles faced by women in Afghanistan serve as a powerful reminder that even in today’s modern world, deep-rooted gender inequalities persist. Their resilience highlights the need for greater awareness and action to confront these enduring issues. As we reflect on their stories, we must commit to advocating for a future where women’s rights are fully recognized and upheld.