KABUL: Taliban will have no choice but to bend the demands of Afghan women if they want to escape the economic collapse and diplomatic isolation, said a prominent rights activist.
The seventy-three-year-old Mahbuba Seraj decided not to escape from Kabul last month when the Taliban confiscated power, two decades after they were overthrown.
Instead, from his house in Kabul, he had followed the messages of the Taliban mixture, trying to describe what was in front for women in his country who had dedicated his life.
“It becomes like a nightmare for everyone,” he said.
The Taliban has gradually disarmed the freedom for women – not including girls from high school, told the woman who worked to stay at home and uncover the government of all men.
They claim it is only temporary, but many do not believe and recognize historical repetitions take place.
“First time, the Taliban had the same reason, they said,” Wait, we will fix it for you ‘, “he said from his house in Kabul.” We waited six years and it never came.
There was no trust (in the Taliban) among the Afghan women.
“Many women, he said, were confused and under severe pressure, feared to leave their homes and face Taliban abuse.
Still, he claimed to be optimistic, convinced that the Taliban would be forced to adjust if They want to stay in power.
There are signs of some changes – women can still be seen on the streets, many of which are still wearing a hijab instead of all the burqas covering and some form of university education can continue, even under segregation.
“Not Afghanistan in 90- An again, this Afghanistan is different, “he said.” I really believe change will happen.
There is no other way, and the Taliban must realize it.
“The head of the Afghan women’s network, Seraj has long advocated for the participation of women who are equivalent to Afghanistan Patriarchy inner Civil war and the Taliban year, and returned after internationally supported government has been appointed.
Even though it was still marginalized, Afghan women had struggled to and obtain basic rights in the past 20 years, becoming a member of parliament, judges, pilots and police officers – though Most are limited to major cities.
Women’s work “Keep the economy, shops, schools, family feed …
That’s why we have to start moving without delay,” said Seraj.
Under the brutal and repressive government of the last Taliban who are famous for violations of rights human assassation, women are effectively prohibited from education and work and only D I allow to leave home with a male companion.
In an unthinkable scene during that period, women have been at the forefront of several protests throughout the country – some nomory of hundreds – demand their participation in society.
They have been out since the Taliban effectively block the rights to assembly and disband the crowd with shots, but Seraj said the resistance was still brewing.
“Don’t think that it’s over, it won’t end, it will only appear in a different way,” he said.
“And it will be dangerous, including for them (Taliban).” A month after seizing power, the Taliban has not been officially recognized by any foreign country.
Afghanistan who depend on assistance has seen access to the international banking system trim and access to funds is almost completely frozen, while donor countries are hesitant to watch to see whether the Taliban live with their softer initial promises.
The health system is on the verge of collapse.
Staff have not been paid and there are shortcomings of drugs, more complicated by brain drain skilled doctors.
If the Taliban survives, the international community “might take very drastic action” and stop all funds.
It will be “worst scenario for everyone”.
He pushed the Taliban to meet him and another woman, to “arrive at a kind of midpoint that can be accepted by both camps”.
“We have to sit and chat about us, who we are, what we want,” he said, with a loose blue headscarf on his gray hair.
Even when the Taliban increased their chokehold in women, he chose to keep hoping.
“I have to believe that something will change for the better, if it’s okay for life?” He said.