Afghan Women’s Silent Suffering!

Afghan Women’s Silent Suffering!!

FARKHUNDA HAYAT

In Afghanistan, the plight of women and girls has taken a heart-wrenching turn as the Taliban continues to escalate its draconian restrictions, stripping half the population of their basic human rights.

The latest decree barring girls from pursuing nursing and midwifery studies in private institutions is yet another devastating blow to female education, a domain already severely limited since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. This relentless oppression has sparked cries for justice from Afghan women, who are increasingly left to wonder: Why is the world silent?

It has been nearly four years since Afghan women and girls have been systematically excluded from public life. Education, once a beacon of hope and progress for many, is now a distant dream.

Secondary schools, universities, and now even healthcare professions are off-limits, leaving thousands of young girls with shattered aspirations. Yet, the global response remains muted, overshadowed by geopolitical complexities and competing international interests.

The Rising Tide of Oppression
The Taliban’s recent restrictions on nursing and midwifery studies are not isolated acts but part of a broader, calculated effort to erase women from public life. These moves align with a strict interpretation of Sharia law, which the Taliban claims is essential for preserving Islamic values. However, this austere vision is widely regarded as a gross distortion of Islam, one that prioritizes control over compassion, oppression over opportunity.

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Since their takeover, the Taliban have banned girls from attending secondary schools, closed universities to female students, and forbidden women from working in most sectors, including international NGOs.

These measures have not only deprived women of education and employment but have also crippled Afghanistan’s social infrastructure. Denying women entry into healthcare professions will further devastate a nation already suffering from a fragile healthcare system, putting countless lives at risk.

A History of Betrayal
The world’s silence today contrasts sharply with the swift international response following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. In the aftermath of that tragedy, global powers united, launching a military campaign to dismantle the Taliban regime and liberate Afghanistan from extremism.

For two decades, hope flourished as women and girls regained access to education, employment, and public life. Schools reopened, women became ministers, doctors, journalists, and entrepreneurs.

However, the abrupt U.S. withdrawal in 2021 signaled a grim reversal of progress. The promises of protection and human rights, made by global leaders, crumbled. The resurgence of the Taliban marked the beginning of a relentless rollback of freedoms, with Afghan women bearing the brunt of this regression.

A Deafening Silence from the International Community
The lack of a decisive international response to this humanitarian crisis raises uncomfortable questions. Why have human rights organizations, once vocal champions of Afghan women, fallen silent? Why have global leaders who pledged unwavering support for women’s rights failed to act?

Afghan women’s suffering is not invisible. Reports from human rights organizations highlight the systemic abuse, yet concrete action is absent. Diplomatic statements of “concern” and “deep regret” are insufficient in the face of ongoing human rights violations. This inaction sends a dangerous message: that Afghan lives, particularly those of women and girls, are less valuable on the global stage.

This selective humanitarianism is painfully evident. When Western nations were under threat, the world mobilized. But now, as Afghan women endure a silent, systematic annihilation of their rights and freedoms, international resolve has waned. The disparity in global response exposes a profound failure in the international commitment to human rights.

Women’s Silent Resistance and Unyielding Spirit
Despite the oppressive environment, Afghan women continue to resist. Underground schools for girls have emerged across the country, run by courageous women risking their lives to educate the next generation. These clandestine efforts, though small, symbolize a profound defiance against the Taliban’s tyrannical rule.

Videos of women chanting, singing, and protesting—even while covered head to toe in mandatory veils—demonstrate their resilience. Their message is clear: they refuse to be erased. Yet, their bravery is met with brutal crackdowns, and their voices are drowned out by the apathy of the international community.

A Moral and Humanitarian Crisis
What is unfolding in Afghanistan is not merely a national issue but a global moral crisis. It is a litmus test for the world’s commitment to human rights. Can we, as a global community, stand by while millions of women are denied the fundamental right to education, autonomy, and dignity?

The silence must end. Human rights organizations, governments, and global leaders must rise above political expediency and reaffirm their commitment to the Afghan people. Concrete actions, such as targeted sanctions against Taliban leaders, diplomatic pressure, and support for grassroots educational initiatives, are imperative. Without this, Afghan women will continue to suffer in isolation, their voices unheard, their dreams extinguished.

A Call for Global Conscience
Afghan women and girls are not asking for charity; they are demanding justice. Their right to education, freedom, and a future should not be negotiable. The international community must not wait for more tragedies to unfold before taking action. As history has shown, the cost of inaction is far too high.

The world must answer the cries of Afghan women and girls before it is too late. Their fight is not just for their own survival but for the preservation of human dignity and rights everywhere. If we fail them now, we fail humanity itself.

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