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Original poster

Cricket match boycott? England v Afghanistan, in protest of sex-based apartheid

67 replies

DissidentDaughter · 29/12/2024 16:22

Now the Taliban have decreed that women should not even be visible through the windows and in back yards of their own homes.

The punishment meted out for the ‘crime’ of being female is relentless: no access to education, to meaningful health and maternity services, no talking, no singing, condemned to a burkha and life in a darkened house - half the population systematically ‘disappeared’ from Afghan society. Voiceless and invisible.

What the Taliban are enforcing is a ruthless form of apartheid, yet the international community remains strangely silent.

🏏 Why is the England cricket team set to play Afghanistan in February? Surely we, and other participating nations, should be calling for a boycott?

https://x.com/victoriapeckham/status/1873328631357047195?s=61

AIBU It’s only cricket, fundamental human rights abuses are an inconvenient issue that should take a back seat.

YANBU It’s the least we can do to raise the issue of the cruel, sex-based dehumanisation of half the Afghan population.

x.com

https://x.com/victoriapeckham/status/1873328631357047195?s=61

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 30/12/2024 07:08

You're absolutely right OP. How this is being swept under the carpet is horrendous.

OrangesCinammonIvy · 30/12/2024 06:57

I think it should go ahead with rules, all wearing burka and can't look at each other

RedHelenB · 30/12/2024 06:43

Are there any women who work for the England set up?

NotDonna · 30/12/2024 06:37

@DeathNote11 a sympathy garnering stooge?
Please explain? I don’t follow cricket.

DeathNote11 · 30/12/2024 06:29

Lollygaggle · 30/12/2024 02:53

You would then be protesting against one of the few voices who openly criticise the Taliban for their stance on women’s education , a very brave move in an extremely repressive country . https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/dec/06/afghanistan-crickey-team-call-taliban-reverse-ban-women-medical-education

He's a sympathy garnering stooge & you've fallen for it.

Original poster
DissidentDaughter · 30/12/2024 05:52

I know the west has a complicated history with Afghanistan but the Al Quaeda issue was (still is?) troubling. 20 years wasn’t long enough to effect and consolidate change for such an unstable region.

What an oversight - failing to consult Afghan women’s groups during the withdrawal negotiations. I feel for the young people who never knew life under the Taliban. What a nightmare.

OP posts:
caramelcappucino · 30/12/2024 04:16

What the taliban are doing to women in Afghanistan and their own people is nothing to do with religion. If anything, what they are doing goes against every single concept of women’s rights and the rights of the people in ALL religions. US and UK only exacerbated the issue by invading the already frail country (read this article for context: www.nytimes.com/2024/12/24/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-us-militias.html) and by default gave the taliban more control than ever before following their departure of their failed invasion guised under ‘helping’ the Afghans. It will be a very, very sad place for a very long time much like so many other countries that have been invaded, obliterated or colonised by the West.

sashh · 30/12/2024 04:10

ElangaScores · 29/12/2024 17:27

Didn't cricket boycotted South Africa over their apartheid laws? Don’t see why we can’t make a similar stand over Afghanistan.

Sport boycotted South Africa.

Lots of people boycotted South African goods.

@Lollygaggle I disagree, it backs them up.

Original poster
DissidentDaughter · 30/12/2024 04:06

Lollygaggle · 30/12/2024 02:53

You would then be protesting against one of the few voices who openly criticise the Taliban for their stance on women’s education , a very brave move in an extremely repressive country . https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/dec/06/afghanistan-crickey-team-call-taliban-reverse-ban-women-medical-education

I imagine most people agree with Khan’s criticisms of the Taliban’s treatment of women. Courage calls to courage - let’s hope he’s joined by more voices.

OP posts:
NautilusLionfish · 30/12/2024 02:32

ElangaScores · 29/12/2024 17:27

Didn't cricket boycotted South Africa over their apartheid laws? Don’t see why we can’t make a similar stand over Afghanistan.

Yes but the influence on apartheid was minimal if not insignificant. It's over egged by the West. How much of a difference do you think not playing football or cricket against South African made when the same countries traded in billions of dollars with the regime thereby giving it the money and power to continue it's horrific policies? While keeping Mandela and the ANC classified as terrorists? A fine performance, no?

churrios · 30/12/2024 02:30

This breaks my heart, men and Muslim men have to say no more

NautilusLionfish · 30/12/2024 02:25

You can boycott. Australia did. But also be aware that captain Rashid Khan and player Mohammed Nabi have spoken against the conditions women are put under. No mean feat given that it could risk their lives (for now Taliban want to keep Afghanistan watching cricket)

Original poster
DissidentDaughter · 30/12/2024 00:28

@NotDonna not sure what we can do, except continue to speak up about the terrible injustices being endured. The scale of suffering is truly mind-boggling: 21 million Afghan women and girls 💔

And the world is not listening. Where is our humanity? Perhaps write to local MPs asking for a debate in Parliament?

OP posts:
NotDonna · 30/12/2024 00:01

It is abhorrent. What can we do?

Original poster
DissidentDaughter · 29/12/2024 23:55

DelicateSoundOfEchos · 29/12/2024 23:44

There are many places with customs, laws and behaviours which aren't compatible with ours. If our government has not seen fit to declare that the issues are so severe as to require our involvement then I just don't think its the place of a sports team to start picking and choosing who they will or won't play against.

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So you’re ok with a government that chooses to turn a blind eye? With a sports team that is politically unaware?

Interesting.

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 29/12/2024 23:53

Actually ICC rules say that full member countries , which includes Afghanistan, have to have a women’s team . Originally Afghanistan were given an exemption , that was in 2017 and it’s been allowed to slide . The Afghan women’s team is actually going to play a match apparently in Australia next month , it is made up of refugees and obviously isn’t remotely linked or ‘approved’ by the Taliban . That is 7 yrs when the ICC should have acted .

username299 · 29/12/2024 23:53

Here's their Twitter page https://x.com/ICC

Tell them how you feel

x.com

https://x.com/ICC

DelicateSoundOfEchos · 29/12/2024 23:44

DissidentDaughter · 29/12/2024 18:28

When only Afghan men have the privilege of running freely on a cricket pitch under a blazing sun, whooping and cheering together etc while women are relegated to perpetual darkness, silence and zero participation in society, I strongly disagree.

Where’s the honour in playing this match, for any side?

Show quote history

There are many places with customs, laws and behaviours which aren't compatible with ours. If our government has not seen fit to declare that the issues are so severe as to require our involvement then I just don't think its the place of a sports team to start picking and choosing who they will or won't play against.

Original poster
DissidentDaughter · 29/12/2024 19:03

@LlynTegid I stand corrected in that the debates and concerns around playing/withdrawing related to the immorality of Mugabe’s terror regime, and a threat to our team from within Zimbabwe.

I guess this cricket tournament is another example of how politics/human rights and sports are intertwined.

OP posts:
SquirrelSoShiny · 29/12/2024 18:37

YANBU. I am more disgusted than I can express at how the world is complicit in this medieval bullshit. I would really like to see the Muslim world unite in condemnation of the Taliban, supported by every decent human of every creed and none.

Muslim men will only listen to Muslim men. Where is the outrage about what is happening to their Muslim sisters in Afghanistan? The silence is a pretty damning indictment.

Original poster
DissidentDaughter · 29/12/2024 18:31

ExtraOnions · 29/12/2024 18:16

Maybe the other half of the population should be doing something about it. Nothing will change unless it comes from within

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I don’t disagree, tho I suspect the Taliban regime is pretty harsh. In the meantime, there’s no reason why we can’t show our support in some way.

OP posts:
Original poster
DissidentDaughter · 29/12/2024 18:28

DelicateSoundOfEchos · 29/12/2024 18:14

I think sports should be completely separate from politics as generally the people playing it aren't involved in the politics of the country, so it punishes the wrong groups.

When only Afghan men have the privilege of running freely on a cricket pitch under a blazing sun, whooping and cheering together etc while women are relegated to perpetual darkness, silence and zero participation in society, I strongly disagree.

Where’s the honour in playing this match, for any side?

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 29/12/2024 18:19

I’m a big cricket fan and a firm believer that Afghanistan should not be in any international tournaments , playing test series or indeed any international cricket . It’s an absolute joke . During the apartheid years South Africa was banned so why not the same for Afghanistan now , what is happening in the country is no less appalling . I’m not a great fan of Australia cricket but at least they refuse to play them in the normal routine games , which is more than any country has done .

LlynTegid · 29/12/2024 18:16

DissidentDaughter · 29/12/2024 17:43

Indeed 🏏 We’ve made a stand in the past vs Zimbabwe and its apartheid regime.

x.com/dalgetysusan/status/1873419856646955185?s=61

Show quote history

The Zimbabwe boycott was about player safety, I recall. Indeed two of the team who played part of the year in England applied for asylum here.