The Taliban’s Regressive Policies Threaten Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

As a result of the rise of fundamentalists to power in Afghanistan in 2021, women’s rights have been progressively taken away. The current Taliban government has banned women from receiving secondary and university education. This restriction has had significant consequences for the female population, as evidenced by a recent incident in which 64 students and 15 teachers were poisoned at a school in the central region of the country. The victims were rushed to the hospital, with three of them remaining in critical condition.

In June 2023, another similar event occurred when 82 girls along with several teachers and staff members were poisoned in two schools in northern Afghanistan. These incidents are part of a growing trend of violence against women and restrictions on their rights since the Taliban regained power. The resurgence of oppressive measures against women echoes the strict social code enforced by the Taliban during their previous regime from 1996 to 2001. Back then, women were prohibited from attending school and were limited to their homes.

The current restrictions imposed by the Taliban include mandatory face coverings and the requirement for women to be accompanied by a male family member when leaving their homes, harkening back to this dark period for women’s rights. The situation for women is dire in Afghanistan, with their basic rights and freedoms being eroded by the fundamentalist government. The international community has a responsibility to speak out against these violations and support the Afghan people in their fight for equality and justice.