To be shocked this isn't getting more coverage?

[Sugarcoldturkey]

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.

As I am culturally and ethnically British, and have no religion, I am most comfortable living in secular Britain. If you're asking whether I would choose to live in a Muslim-majority country, probably not, but then I wouldn’t choose to live in any country where religion has a heavy influence and would be equally uncomfortable adapting to the culture of Norway as to the culture of Algeria.

If I were forced to choose, it would depend entirely on the country. For example, I’d prefer the USA to Saudi Arabia, but I’d take Indonesia over the USA any day.

But my preferences are irrelevant to the point I was making. Britain is a secular country (I know there are still some ties to the Church in certain areas, but functionally, we’re secular) and that isn’t going to change in my lifetime.

Even if it did, and Islam became the dominant religion here, I can guarantee that I’d have far more in common with a Muslim born and raised in Britain than I would with a Christian raised in the Philippines or an atheist raised in Serbia, so would probably be fairly comfortable here culturally still.

Aren't Christians supposed to care about everybody? Well, at least you admit your bias, I guess.

I see someone else has already covered the historical abuse and persecution, so I'll focus on the present.

If you were to ask the women being denied bodily autonomy in certain states in America, the women forced to stay in abusive marriages in the Philippines, the religious minorities imprisoned and tortured in Eritrea, or the LGBT community facing death in Uganda simply for existing, they'd probably say they feel persecuted by Christianity today.

But no doubt none of the above will be because of Christianity in your eyes.

And do you hold all Christians accountable for the actions of say Christian Russia or America? No of course you don't. Nice bit of stereotyping and othering holding an entire religion accountable for some rogue nations states.

Well after the riots, there were huge demonstrations by white people to say ‘not in my name’ and register their disapproval. Should they not have bothered?

Edit - obviously the counter protests weren’t solely white, but in terms of registering disapproval of the actions of others you share that characteristic with.

Just saw another article in the guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/sep/01/afghan-women-sing-in-defiance-of-taliban-laws-silencing-their-voices

Inspiring to see how women can show such courage even under the worst oppression imaginable.

People need to stop saying "Afghan men". Afghanistan has a population of 40m, the Taliban make up between 100,000 and 400,000 men, depending on sources so it is not all Afghan men.

Muslim does not equal Taliban 🙄

Yes this. I highly doubt most Afghan men are happy living under this regime either. Yes I appreciate they aren’t quite as oppressed, but they still are oppressed

It's definitely not all Afghan men. But aren't there enough Afghan men to overthrow the Taliban? By not resisting, doesn't that make them complicit in the appalling treatment of their women?

I take it you approve of NAMALT as well?

Yes, if the Taliban are only 400 000 and there are 20 million men not happy about it one would hope they eventually would band together and chuck the Taliban out.