The continuing erasure of women - Afghanistan

[DomesticatedZombie]

'...the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue announced that all women would have to cover their face in public, and laid out an escalating set of punishments for anyone refusing to comply.'

Solidarity with the women of Afghanistan.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-61363969

Heartbreaking.

It’s heartbreaking. Women and girls are once again invisible in every way.

Yes heard this today. Words fail me.

In so many countries, the rights of women to be free self determining individuals are being stripped away, with Afghanistan being one of the most oppressive.
As others have said - heartbreaking.

It is a ghastly rerun of the previous era when the Taliban was in power. The same extreme misogynistic and literal interpretation of their religion, the same extreme inequality between the sexes returned, though most of that didn't end in the rural areas even during the last twenty years' pause in Taliban's rule
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It's difficult to know what we outside the country can do in this situation, but I am going to donate all the money I no longer donate to captured human and women's rights organisations to organisations working for women and girls in Afghanistan.

Heartbreaking.

Are there any, nepeta? I had the impression all NGOs etc would have withdrawn?

There is this: womenforwomen.org.uk/work-we-do/afghanistan-response

But: 'Afghanistan is currently one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to identify as a woman.' - FRO

Unsurprising, devastating.

I couldn't believe this has happened the same week as the leaked document from America. Men making decisions about the bodily autonomy of women and over turning previous freedoms is happening across the world. It's awful.

Afghanistan is currently one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to identify as a woman
Yeah - like they can just identify out of it 🤬
Awful.

Exactly, Beware. It's so head-pattingly crass, smug, and insensitive.

'Afghanistan is currently one of the most difficult countries in the world in which to identify as a woman

its a fucking joke

The Taliban's interpretation of Islam is extremely misogynistic and leaves women and girls with very few rights. Indeed, adulthood doesn't happen to women who will always have to have a male guardian (mahram).

So if a woman violates the rule to cover her face in public, it is her guardian who will be first told off, then perhaps fined on a second violation, then sent to prison for three days on the third etc.

I am trying to find out from my Afghani contacts who are, however, out of that country. But one of them may know more about indigenous women's groups and how to help them.

That must have been written by some faux-woke very young person. It's incredibly insulting and tone-deaf as the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan has zero to do with some weird belief in floating abstract gender fairies inside our heads.

Thanks, nepeta. Would appreciate it if you're able to share. It looks from a quick look about that some organisations may be starting to work in Afghanistan again.

lindanorgrovefoundation.org/blog/trying-harder-overcome-obstacles/

Awful treatment of women and girls.

BBC R4 managed to report it as burka earlier today and then "women have to veil" multiple times throughout the day, with "face veil" also used (I've been ill in bed all day with the radio on all day). I don't know who writes the news but "veil" and "face veil" (hijab and niqab) are not the same as burqa.

It seemed like someone didn't know the first thing about Muslim attire (not hard to find out) or they were trying to soften it somehow. And my ill brain could not twist itself around why.

I will let you know if I get strong recommendations.

Heartbreaking its so hard to know what we can do

A charity that is providing education for girls in Afghanistan is PenPath.
The following news organisations are still operating:
TOLO news
AzadiRadio
Etilaatroz

You can find them on the blue bird. If you cannot read Persian, the "translate" button actually does it well enough.

This 'identify as a woman' seems to be a tic of speech now. A woman in Afghanistan who identifies as a man (and it does happen, although not necessarily because they believe they are male) will have a hard time as she tries to disguise her femaleness. A man who identifies as a woman likewise wouldn't be accepted as the opposite sex and would be running a terrible risk.

It’s in situations like this you can really see the absurdity and ridiculousness of using “identify” as a woman rather than you just are one. It gives an impression that you have chosen to be female and could presumably choose not to be too. That you hold sone responsibility for the situation you find yourself in.
Why don’t Afghan women just not identify as women? Oh yes they can’t 😡