The rest is politics - “The Taliban took over the country and it's much safer”

[HiggledyPiggledy33]

Just outraged at what I’ve just heard in the rest is politics.

They are discussing why aren’t we boycotting Afghanistan, and I can’t believe what Rory is saying.

“For the first time in over 20 years, you can travel safely through the country.”

Well maybe you can Rory, but I don’t think women can - is that fine? Throw half the population under the bus, as long as you’re OK.

“The Taliban have very repressive views on women, but they've also in other ways changed”
oh well that’s ok then.

“We're in a culture now where it really suits a lot of people, particularly on the far right, to emphasise Muslim countries where women are not treated correctly”
Women not being treated correctly is the problem. Once that’s sorted, let’s look at any sensitivity about muslims.

From The Rest Is Politics: Question Time: Assad’s People - Syria, Torture, and Justice, 9 Jan 2025

Surely every single oppressive regime will have a favoured group for whom life is somewhat ok compared to the lives of those who are persecuted?

One really hopes for politicians and journalists who are able to imagine themselves into the lives of those who are less privileged than themselves. Couldn't Eton / Oxbridge embed some sort of real-life internship into their education?

But Rory did do an internship. He spent 5 months as a probationary 2nd Lieutenant in the Black Watch.

FFS. Just saw that he was serious. That is some fucked up statement.

Sounds on a par with "at least Mussolini got the trains running on time."

I used to listen to this but find it unbearable now- the smugness and lack of insight or self-awareness.

I’ve not listened to recent episodes but I’ve heard him say similar things before, his point being women and girls situation was the same beforehand anyway, this hasn’t changed but there are less bombs going off so it’s safer from this point of view.

Me too. I really liked how global they were - that they didn’t just talk about politics in the UK and US but not sure I can keep listening after this. Any suggestions for a similar podcast to replace it?

We're in a culture now where it really suits a lot of people, particularly on the far right, to emphasise Muslim countries where women are not treated correctly”

Perhaps Rory might like to listen to the many Muslim women, including Mala Yousafzai, who are campaigning about the awful situation for women in Afghanistan. Instead of doing privileged mansplaining.

https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/malala-yousafzai-taliban-afghanistan-women-b2678326.html

His "expertise " was beautifully shown in him calling the u.s. election. They are both arrogant, over promoted, selfish, intellectually inconsistent...and quite twatish.

"’ve not listened to recent episodes but I’ve heard him say similar things before, his point being women and girls situation was the same beforehand anyway, this hasn’t changed but there are less bombs going off so it’s safer from this point of view"

But that's not true is it? Women's lives in Afghanistan have been made progressively more limited since the taliban took over again.

I’ve never been to Afghanistan so I don’t know, was just trying to provide some context to the pile on. I would think someone who has been there before would have more insight than me. As I say I’ve not listened to the episode the OP is referring to.

What an absolute dick

But it WASN'T the same, at least for women in the more urban areas, and two supposedly knowledgeable and politically aware men should have known that. Afghanistan had women politicians, judges, doctors, university professors, TV news presenters and other professions and increasing numbers of girls were in secondary education and university. Now they have lost literally ALL of this and can't even speak outdoors where men can hear them or go anywhere without the guardianship of a male relative. They have even been forbidden to train as midwives, thus condemning yet more women to an early death. I am filled with utter contempt for any man who can say what Stewart said or acquiesce as Campbell apparently did. 😡

was just trying to provide some context to the pile on

Rory Stewart isn't actually on this thread, is he? He's a misogynistic dick.

I've not been there either, but I have read the news that women and girls have been denied education and work opportunities. The latest announcements being that their voices can't be heard in public and they shouldn't be visible through windows.

Yes this is it exactly. I sometimes wonder whether I wouldn’t see how unfair it is, if I were on the other side…

Exactly

I used to be an avid TRIP listener but the ingrained and overt misogyny put a stop to that. I did try again and heard the episode mentioned and couldn't believe my ears. I was curious after the US elections and their total misunderstanding of why trans was an issue and their lack of respect for the voters (rather than trying to understand) did make me wonder if there might be a change, but sadly they have doubled down. Shameful.

Agree with previous poster - Marina Hyde is excellent and tolerates Richard Osman's mansplaining outbursts very well. Dominic Sandbrook is better on current affairs than TRIP.

When did I say he was?

I knew none of this, just a fan of the show who had heard him say similar sounding things before and didn’t consider it offensive. As I say I’ve not heard the episode in question so can’t comment on the remarks in the OP.

It’s worth listening to so you can make up your own mind. He does have some valid points that sanctions aren’t going to be effective, and that it can get in the way of organisations trying to make a difference on the ground. I agree with those points, but the way he sees women and their rights? Shocking.

I shall, thank you.

When did I say he was?

Just the use of the word "pile on" as if posters are being unfair to poor old Rory Stewart. He's a thoughtless, smug prick to be making this comment.

This. How can he not know this?

I also read that women can’t be seen by male doctors and that women can no longer train as doctors. So basically eventually condemned to no health care.

Maybe, but I like to listen/read things for myself and make my own mind up not just read what someone else has posted on the internet and post unnecessarily aggressive posts about it. I very much doubt everyone responding on here has listened to the episode in question.

I’m also a fan of the show so perhaps biased because of that.