LAHORE: Sima Samar, the former Afghan minister for women affairs and chair of Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, says some people think that the Taliban has brought about security to Afghanistan, but we should remember it was the Taliban who caused insecurity in the country.

She was speaking on the first day of the Asma Jahangir Conference in a session titled ‘Afghan Women and Girls Fighting for Survival’ here on Saturday.

“Space for women’s rights is shrinking in all the countries at different levels. It was the worst in Afghanistan during the first Taliban rule. This time round, the people were hopeful for seeing a changed Taliban, but it did not happen. Whether we like it or not, if half of the population of a country doesn’t have rights and access to education that country is not going to have sustainable development and we have to accept that reality.”

Ms Samar says the ministry of women affairs and Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission are no more there. She adds that after a long wait Afghanistan had equal rights for women and they were a part of constitution-making, but all is gone now.

“We had a law for domestic violence against women for the first time. We criminalised domestic violence in Afghanistan. All of these laws and departments are closed now. Women are restricted to home, only women doctors and teachers are allowed to work. Those who could leave the country have already left,” Samar says, painting a dark picture of Afghanistan.

She questions how a group that uses religion and puts curbs on women can be legitimised when Islam has given the women equal right to education.

Omer Zakhilwal, former Afghan ambassador in Pakistan, says the Taliban did understand the implications of their restrictive policies regarding women. “A majority of the Taliban believe that they are on the wrong path regarding women’s work and education.”

About the potential of the Taliban to change, he says it is possible because many women rights activists are staying in Kabul. He says the fact that the Taliban listens to the people like him should be taken as a positive. “There is no religious, cultural or logistical rationale for restrictions on women. Most of the Taliban leaders can’t argue on the issue of women.” Mr Omer says he is optimistic and hopeful for seeing flexibility in the Taliban.

Mehbouba Seraj, journalist and women rights activist, laments that she saw hard-earned democracy collapse within 24 hours in 2021. “I have never seen anything like that. After that it has been a constant struggle to prove that the women of Afghanistan are here and they are not going anywhere else. However, for the Taliban they don’t exist, which is beyond comprehension.”

Ms Seraj points out that from class VI on wards, women are not allowed to be educated. She asks how it is possible for a country for 20m women not to have any rights.

The session was moderated by Samina Ahmed of the International Crisis Group.

Published in Dawn, October 23th, 2022