INFOGRAPHIC ON: ‘Today a female cat has more freedoms than a woman [in Afghanistan]’. Meryl Streep.

This is a very important topic. We can thank Meryl Streep for raising it in a viral social media video, which is published (embedded) within the Infographic on this page which I prepared. You play the video by clicking on one of 2 play buttons. It is a great video 😃😒. She was speaking at an event on ‘The Inclusion of Women in the Future of Afghanistan’.

The world needs celebrities like Meryl Streep to be outspoken enough to criticise the Taliban who now run Afghanistan after the departure of Western forces, primarily American. During the occupation by these forces Afghanistan women enjoyed great freedoms but they’ve been mercilessly taken away to the point where, according to Meryl Streep, they have less rights than a domestic cat in Afghanistan.

And we have to say right away that – despite the Quran hadiths preaching kindness to cats – domestic cats in Afghanistan have very few rights because animal welfare is hardly discussed in Afghanistan by the government.

Animal rights may not be discussed at all. It is not on the agenda. I would suspect that animals in Afghanistan, in general, are exploited and abused and legislation does not protect them. But women have less rights than cats in many respects.

I commend Meryl Streep for introducing cats into this discussion because she knows that when you introduce cats you get a bigger audience! 💖

This discussion is really about the misogynistic behaviour of Taliban leaders and I suspect many Taliban followers in Afghanistan. They are misogynistic by Western standards concerning culture and attitudes. We must respect other cultures but you can’t respect such horrendously misogynistic behaviour.

I entered into a dialogue with artificial intelligence before writing this article; specifically ChatGPT, which is perhaps the primary AI chat bot through which you can find answers.

The dialogue that I entered into with this chat bot is published below the Infographic. The conclusion is that the Taliban have an extreme interpretation of the Koran which is unacceptable to many Muslims but through that interpretation they are able to exercise complete control of women in Afghanistan and suppress their rights to near zero.

I propose that the Taliban are using their strict interpretation of Islamic faith to maintain a male power base in that country; to suppress women because they fear women if they are given rights. They don’t want their power base undermined by women. This translates to extreme misogynism.

Are the Taliban 100% Muslims? Short answer please.

No, not necessarily. While the Taliban identify as Muslims and follow an interpretation of Islam, their beliefs and actions are considered by some Muslims to deviate from mainstream Islamic teachings.

But they believe that they follow the teachings of the Koran. Correct?

Yes, the Taliban believe they are following the teachings of the Quran, but their interpretation is highly strict and differs from many mainstream Islamic views.

By Westerns standards of culture, Muslims in general make women second class citizens. Correct?

By Western standards, some traditional practices in certain Muslim-majority cultures may be seen as treating women as second-class citizens, particularly regarding issues like legal rights, education, and freedom of movement. However, views on women’s roles vary widely across the Muslim world, and many Muslims advocate for gender equality in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic teachings. It’s important to differentiate between cultural practices and religious beliefs, as these often differ.

Turning to the Taliban, does their strict interpretation of the Quran feed into what appears by Western standards to be misogynistic behaviour?

Yes, the Taliban’s strict interpretation of the Quran and Islamic law (Sharia) contributes to practices that, by Western standards, are viewed as deeply misogynistic. They enforce policies that severely restrict women’s rights, including limiting their access to education, employment, and public life, as well as imposing strict dress codes. This interpretation is far more conservative and rigid than what is practiced in many other Muslim-majority countries, and it reinforces patriarchal norms that heavily subordinate women.

Is the Taliban’s strict interpretation of the Quran an excuse to dominate women and exert power over them because they fear giving rights to women as it might undermine the male powerbase?

Yes, the Taliban’s strict interpretation of the Quran can be seen as a means to dominate women and maintain a male-dominated power structure. While they claim their policies are based on Islamic teachings, critics argue that their approach selectively interprets religious texts to justify restricting women’s rights. By limiting women’s roles in society, the Taliban reinforce patriarchal norms that preserve male authority and control. This approach may reflect a fear that granting women more rights could challenge the traditional powerbase and disrupt the social order they seek to uphold.

Do Western societies feel that they need to do something to support women’s rights in Afghanistan? Or do we just watch?

Western societies generally express concern about women’s rights in Afghanistan under Taliban rule and have made efforts to support Afghan women through diplomacy, advocacy, and humanitarian aid. Governments, international organizations, and NGOs have condemned the Taliban’s restrictions and have tried to push for change through sanctions, dialogue, and funding for education and women’s programs. However, direct intervention is limited due to political, military, and practical constraints, leading some to criticize Western nations for not doing enough. In many cases, these societies are watching, but there are ongoing efforts to provide support, though the impact is often limited by the Taliban’s control.

Below is some detail on the freedoms removed from the lives of women living in Afganhistan.

Since regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has imposed a series of restrictions on women and girls, severely limiting their rights and freedoms. These measures represent a significant rollback from the progress made in the two decades prior. Here are the key freedoms that have been removed:

1. Education:

• Secondary and University Education: The Taliban banned girls from attending secondary schools (grades 7-12) in March 2022, just before the academic year began. In December 2022, the ban was extended to university education for women, essentially blocking their access to any form of higher education.
• Primary Education: There have been concerns about access to education for younger girls (up to grade 6), but so far, they are generally allowed to attend school. However, the restrictions on older girls cast doubt on their long-term educational prospects.

2. Employment:

• Public Sector Jobs: Women have been barred from most public sector jobs, including government positions. This has limited their economic independence and forced many to remain at home.
• NGOs: In December 2022, the Taliban banned women from working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This restriction significantly undermined humanitarian efforts, especially those focusing on women’s health and education, as many aid organizations rely on female workers to provide services to women and children.

3. Freedom of Movement:

• Women are no longer allowed to travel long distances without being accompanied by a male guardian (mahram), such as a close male relative.
• Public Spaces: In many cases, women are restricted from entering public parks, gyms, and other recreational spaces. In November 2022, women were banned from accessing public parks and gyms altogether.

4. Dress Code:

• The Taliban has imposed a strict dress code on women, mandating the wearing of a full-body veil (hijab or burqa). While some women in urban areas were initially able to wear a looser form of hijab, there has been increasing pressure and enforcement for women to adopt the full burqa, covering everything but the eyes.

5. Political Participation:

• Women have been excluded from any form of political involvement or representation. The Taliban government has not included women in any significant role, erasing their presence from formal political life.

6. Access to Public and Social Life:

• In some areas, the Taliban has restricted women’s access to public spaces such as parks, bazaars, and other communal areas. These restrictions are often enforced with a mandate that women must be accompanied by a male relative and wear specific attire.
• Women were also barred from accessing certain parts of the justice system, diminishing their ability to seek legal recourse.

7. Media and Expression:

• Women’s voices and images have been largely removed from media. Female journalists, news presenters, and entertainers have been pushed out of their professions, and many radio and TV stations have either closed or censored content relating to women’s rights and gender equality.
• In 2022, women television presenters were forced to wear face coverings on air, a move widely criticized as an attack on free expression.

8. Health Services:

• Healthcare access has become more restricted, particularly for women without male companions. There have been reports of women being denied healthcare unless accompanied by a male relative, which has worsened health outcomes, particularly in maternal and reproductive health.

Summary

Under the Taliban’s new regime, Afghan women and girls face an extreme form of gender-based segregation, losing basic freedoms like access to education, employment, public participation, and personal autonomy. The situation represents a sharp reversal from the advancements in women’s rights made during the U.S.-backed Afghan government era.

And some more:

And girls can’t sing?

Yes, under the Taliban’s current regime in Afghanistan, girls and women face severe restrictions on singing and performing in public. Here are some key points regarding this situation:

1. Ban on Music and Singing:

• The Taliban has issued directives that effectively ban women and girls from singing and performing music publicly. This includes participation in school performances, public concerts, or any form of entertainment that involves singing.

2. Cultural Restrictions:

• The Taliban views music and singing as contrary to their interpretation of Islamic law and morality. This has led to the closure of many music schools and the prohibition of female singers from performing, effectively stifling artistic expression.

3. Impact on Artists:

• Many female artists, including musicians and singers, have faced harassment and threats. Some have had to flee the country or go into hiding to escape persecution for their art.

4. Censorship of Media:

• Women’s voices have been largely silenced in media, with female singers being particularly affected. Television channels that previously showcased female performers have been pressured to remove such content.

5. Public Reaction:

• The restrictions on singing and music have drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and advocates for women’s rights, who argue that such measures are part of a broader agenda to suppress women’s freedoms and rights in Afghanistan.

Conclusion

Overall, the ban on singing and public performances for girls and women is a clear example of the Taliban’s restrictive policies, which severely limit artistic and personal expression as part of their broader campaign to enforce strict social codes.