Women in Afghanistan: A Squirrel Has More Rights than a Woman in Afghanistan

Women in Afghanistan: A Squirrel Has More Rights than a Woman in Afghanistan

KAKALI DAS

“A squirrel has more rights than a girl in Afghanistan because the public parks have been closed to women and girls in Taliban”. “A bird may sing in Kabul, but a woman or a girl may not in public.” These statements are said by Meryl Streep in an UN event.

These powerful words capture the deep pain and injustice faced by women and girls in Afghanistan today. What once sounded like a dramatic expression has now become a painful reality. Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, the lives of Afghan women have changed in ways that are both visible and hidden. Their freedom has been reduced step by step, through orders, decrees, and new laws that affect almost every part of their daily lives.

On January 4, 2026, the Taliban introduced a new criminal procedure code for the courts. It contains 119 articles. Hidden within it is Article 32, which has shocked human rights groups around the world. It says that if a husband beats his wife and the assault does not result in broken bones or open wounds, it may not be considered a punishable offence. In simple words, if a woman is beaten but her injuries are not considered “serious enough,” the law may not protect her. This is seen by many as a clear attempt to legalise domestic violence.

Even in cases where severe injury can be proven, the maximum punishment for a husband may be only 15 days. But there is another obstacle. A woman cannot approach a judge alone. She needs a male guardian, known as a mehram, to accompany her. This means that a woman who is already suffering abuse must depend on another male relative to seek justice. For many, this makes justice almost impossible. Physical and sexual violence are not clearly prohibited in the new penal code. This silence in the law creates fear and confusion. It sends a message that violence inside the home may not be treated as a serious crime.

Erased from Public Life: The Plight of Afghan Women Under Taliban Rule

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

The new code also states that if a woman leaves her husband’s home without permission, it can be treated as defiance. Under Article 34, a woman who seeks shelter at her parents’ home after abuse could face punishment of up to three months. In other words, escaping violence may itself be considered a crime. This changes the home from a place of safety to a place of confinement.

These laws do not stand alone. They are part of a larger pattern of restrictions that began when the Taliban took control in August 2021. At first, some leaders promised moderation and said women’s rights would be respected within Islamic law. But over time, policies have become stricter. The space available to women has grown smaller both inside their homes and in public life.

Healthcare is one of the most worrying areas. In some provinces, women are not allowed to be treated by male doctors. At the same time, women have been barred from studying medicine and midwifery. In December 2024, further restrictions were placed on clinical training for female students. Afghanistan already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region. Many women face early marriages and adolescent pregnancies. Now imagine a pregnant woman in a rural district experiencing complications during childbirth. The nearest trained female doctor may be hours away. A male doctor may refuse to examine her without the permission of a male guardian. In such situations, delay can mean death. The restrictions are not only about rights. They are about survival.

Education tells another tragic story. In March 2022, girls above grade six were told not to return to school. In December 2022, women were banned from universities. Afghanistan became the only country in the world where girls are formally barred from secondary and higher education. Private tutoring and home schooling, especially in subjects like mathematics and science, have also been restricted. According to UN Women, more than half of Afghan women have never received any formal education, including religious schooling. The average years of schooling for women is now around 3.3 years, which is less than half that of men.

The Silent Struggle of Afghan Migrants in Neighboring Countries

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

For a generation of Afghan girls who grew up between 2001 and 2021, this has been heart-breaking. Many of them attended school, dreamed of becoming doctors, teachers, engineers, and journalists. Some entered universities and saw new possibilities. Now those dreams are suspended. Classrooms are closed to them. Libraries are silent. Degrees remain unfinished. The loss is not only personal. It is a loss for the entire country.

Employment opportunities have also disappeared. Shortly after taking power, the Taliban told women working in government offices to stay at home temporarily. The reason given was that their safety could not be guaranteed. Later, women were banned from working in non governmental organisations in December 2022. In 2023, even Afghan women employed by the United Nations faced restrictions. Reports suggest that nearly 90 percent of Afghan women now face severe limitations in their ability to work. Without jobs, women become financially dependent on male relatives. This increases their vulnerability, especially when legal protections inside the home are weak.

Financial exclusion makes the situation worse. Less than 7 percent of women in Afghanistan have access to banking services. Without bank accounts or independent income, it becomes difficult to start small businesses or save money. Economic dependence limits choices. A woman who wants to leave an abusive situation may have no financial means to support herself.

Politically, women have almost disappeared from public life. There are no women in the Taliban cabinet. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs has been replaced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. This new ministry focuses on enforcing moral codes, including dress rules and public behaviour. Women who protested against education bans in 2021 and 2022 were detained. Some were held for weeks and later released after reportedly being pressured to remain silent. Fear has replaced open protest.

Afghan Women and Girls’ Relentless Battle against Taliban Tyranny

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

The criminal procedure code also includes vague provisions that allow punishment for speech or actions considered against official interpretations. It introduces social categories that can affect how punishments are decided. There are even references that appear to legitimise practices like slavery under certain conditions. Such clauses raise serious concerns about equality before the law. For women, this means fewer safeguards in a system that already limits their visibility.

Daily social life has also changed. In November 2022, women were banned from parks and gyms. Beauty salons were shut down in 2023, removing one of the few women run businesses that allowed interaction outside the home. Face covering orders were reimposed in May 2022. Women are encouraged or required to cover their faces in public. Long distance travel requires a male guardian. Access to many public institutions depends on male approval. These measures may appear administrative on paper, but together they create a life controlled by permissions and restrictions.

Four Years After the Fall: Afghanistan Under the Taliban’s Shadow

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

The Taliban describe these measures as moral governance based on their interpretation of religion and Afghan culture. They argue that they are protecting women’s dignity and honour. However, many Islamic scholars around the world disagree with such extreme interpretations. They point out that Islam historically allowed women to study, work, and participate in society. The debate is not about faith alone. It is about power and control.

The international community has criticised the situation. The United Nations has described it as institutionalised discrimination. Many governments have refused to formally recognise the Taliban government. However, practical action has been limited. Some countries maintain diplomatic contact for security and humanitarian reasons. Trade continues through neighbouring countries. Aid flows to prevent economic collapse. This limited engagement gives the Taliban a degree of international legitimacy without requiring major policy changes.

Experts argue that the Taliban are under internal pressure as well. They have not formed an inclusive government that represents different ethnic groups such as Hazaras and Tajiks. Leadership rivalries exist within the movement. In this context, taking a hard line on women’s rights may be a way to show ideological commitment and maintain support among conservative factions. It is often easier to impose strict rules on the weakest section of society. In Afghanistan, women have long been among the most vulnerable, especially after decades of war.

History shows that similar restrictions defined the Taliban’s first rule in the late 1990s. After 2001, a new generation of Afghan girls entered schools and universities. Many worked as journalists, politicians, and civil servants. That generation is now witnessing a reversal. Some still resist quietly. Former students keep their notebooks and textbooks, hoping for a return to classrooms. Underground study circles continue in secret. Women share information and support each other through small networks. Resistance may not always be loud. Sometimes it is simply the act of refusing to give up hope.

There are other significant issues that deepen the crisis. Child marriage has increased due to poverty and restrictions on education. When girls cannot study or work, families may see marriage as the only option. Reports of forced marriages, including marriages between Taliban fighters and local girls, have also raised concerns. Restrictions on media have silenced many female journalists. Cultural life has shrunk, with music and artistic expression limited. Mental health problems are rising among women who feel trapped and isolated. Depression and anxiety are common, but psychological services are limited.

Afghanistan: The Living Hell Where Girls Are Erased and Women Left to Die

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

Humanitarian conditions also play a role. Afghanistan faces economic hardship, drought, and food insecurity. Women often suffer most in such crises. When resources are scarce, boys’ education and health may be prioritised over girls’. The combination of economic crisis and gender restrictions creates a cycle that is hard to break.

The central question remains whether diplomatic engagement can influence Taliban policies on women. Some believe that continued engagement may encourage gradual change. Others argue that isolation and strong sanctions are necessary to send a clear message. So far, neither approach has produced major improvements in women’s rights. The world’s attention is divided among many global conflicts. Afghan women risk becoming a forgotten crisis.

Afghan women: STORY OF AN IMMIGRANT

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

Yet the story is not only about victimhood. Afghan women have shown remarkable courage for decades. They have worked as teachers in secret during previous Taliban rule. They have organised protests despite threats. They have documented abuses and shared their stories with the world. Their resilience challenges the idea that they are passive subjects. They are active agents struggling within severe limits.

The oppression of women in Afghanistan today is not just a women’s issue. It is a human rights issue. It affects education, health, economy, and the future of the country. A society that restricts half of its population cannot fully develop. When girls are denied education, the entire nation loses talent and potential. When women are denied legal protection, the rule of law itself is weakened.

MAHABAHU : AFGHAN WOMEN Special Issue 1

MAHABAHU : AFGHAN WOMEN Special Issue 2

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

The statements quoted at the beginning of this article remind us of the painful contrast between nature and human society. A bird may sing freely in Kabul, but many women cannot raise their voices. Parks may welcome animals, but not girls. Laws may protect property more clearly than they protect wives. These contradictions force us to question the meaning of justice and dignity.

The future remains uncertain. Will restrictions continue to tighten, or will internal and external pressures bring change? Can Afghan society find ways to protect its women within cultural and religious frameworks? Can the international community move beyond words to meaningful action? These questions have no easy answers.

What is clear is that behind every law and decree are real lives. There is a girl who wants to return to school. There is a mother who needs safe medical care. There is a wife who seeks protection from violence. There is a young graduate who wants to work and contribute to her country. Their stories cannot be reduced to statistics. They are the human face of policies that claim morality but produce suffering.

LOOKING BACK: Afghanistan Has Fallen to the Taliban !!

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE

If the doors of education and employment remain closed for long, the damage may last for generations. Hope may survive in secret notebooks and whispered conversations, but hope alone cannot replace rights. The world must continue to listen, speak, and act. Afghan women have carried the burden of war and political change for decades. They deserve more than sympathy. They deserve equality, safety, and the freedom to shape their own futures.

Mahabahu.com is an Online Magazine with collection of premium Assamese and English articles and posts with cultural base and modern thinking.  You can send your articles to editor@mahabahu.com / editor@mahabahoo.com (For Assamese article, Unicode font is necessary) Images from different sources.