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Original poster

To be shocked this isn't getting more coverage?

411 replies

Sugarcoldturkey · 28/08/2024 08:51

Women in Afghanistan are now forbidden from speaking when not inside their homes. A simple "hello" to someone in a shop is now against the law. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/26/taliban-bar-on-afghan-women-speaking-in-public-un-afghanistan

AIBU to think this is some of the most horrific news I've heard in months? I can't wrap my head around it and I can't help thinking - activists/newspapers/politicians are loud when campaigning about the gender pay gap or the state of child care or a woman's rights to her own body but somehow on this topic no one wants to criticise too often or too loudly.

Is it because religion is mixed in? Or guilt over the war? Or do politicians in particular only care about women's rights when it's a vote-winner in their constituency? Or is it just that it's so terrible and we all feel so powerless to prevent it that we just prefer to ignore the situation?

I'm feeling v v shaken.

OP posts:
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Original poster
Sugarcoldturkey · 28/08/2024 09:13

PaminaMozart · 28/08/2024 09:10

Please consider helping Afghan women and girls by donating:

https://lindanorgrovefoundation.org/

Thanks for the link.

OP posts:
Sometimeswinning · 28/08/2024 09:06

Moonshiners · 28/08/2024 08:55

It's so horrific. The UK leaving how it did is shameful.

Trump and Biden played a massive part in this. It was their stupid agreement (Promise you won’t let the Taliban back in control!)

Im not sure the UK could have done it without the rest of NATOs backing but I also don’t think Boris pushed or supported a different alliance.

Original poster
Sugarcoldturkey · 28/08/2024 09:06

@valadon68 unfortunately, the UN don't seem to be doing anything either. Some googling brought up this: https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/06/24/un-meeting-blocks-afghan-women-agenda-participation

So meetings between the UN and the Taliban have excluded any mention of women's rights!?

I can't help thinking that if one government can do this and get away with it, then others might follow? Surely a would-be dictator would a love a way to effectively shut down 50% of the population.

UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, February 26, 2024.

UN Meeting Blocks Afghan Women from Agenda, Participation

A famous Farsi proverb says, “Whatever spoils, they put salt on it. But woe to the day when salt itself spoils.” We say this in moments of utter disappointment, when you feel you can trust nothing and no one. This saying rings painfully true right now,...

https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/06/24/un-meeting-blocks-afghan-women-agenda-participation

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 28/08/2024 09:03

There isn't a public outcry because there is very little we can do.

The U.K. has invaded Afghanistan I think three or four times in the last 200 years.

The soviets, the Americans and us have all tried to drag them out of their backward tribal culture which oppresses women.

Ultimately the men in Afghanistan are prepared to fight for their country and their right to do what they want in it which includes treating women terribly.

All of the invasions were fought and ultimately the Afghans won.

So no, unless you want to suggest that a country invades Afghanistan and puts it's soldiers lives on the line (and lots of them will die) to protect the women of Afghanistan then there is nothing to be done.

valadon68 · 28/08/2024 08:59

It is completely heartbreaking.

When I was a child I used wonder about why there wasn't more international resistance to extreme forms of government like there was in the Soviet Union etc. I felt innocently smug about being born in enlightened times. Now I'm in the position of better understanding the past through our helplessness in the present and becoming resigned to it, rather than drawing lessons from the past to help resist horrible situations in the present. What can we do - other than becoming UN special rapporteurs or reporters or diplomats or whatever and making a tiny, local dent in the situation?

Original poster
Sugarcoldturkey · 28/08/2024 08:57

I saw the article on Monday, quite far down in the news feed. Then today I had to really go digging to find it again. I'm shocked that this is the only article I've seen about what's happening (and I read several newspapers) and there isn't any sort of public outcry over it. It's heartbreaking.

OP posts:
SmileEachDay · 28/08/2024 08:55

It’s absolutely terrifying that women annd girls are being subjected to this.

Moonshiners · 28/08/2024 08:55

It's so horrific. The UK leaving how it did is shameful.

Dulra · 28/08/2024 08:54

I would suggest an element of guilt and frustration that everything has gone backwards and the war in Afghanistan has achieved nothing. The Taliban are back worse than ever it is horrendous and so scary. These women were promised so much by the west and are now left completely abandoned in a brutal misogynistic regime.

VickyEadieofThigh · 28/08/2024 08:52

I agree, OP. I think western governments are ashamed of the fact that we left Afghanistan to the Taliban.