Afghan women's activist fights Taliban and self-doubt
1 year, 10 months ago

Afghan women's activist fights Taliban and self-doubt

The Hindu  

Mahbouba Seraj is a rare dissenting voice in Afghanistan, but the veteran activist has begun to doubt whether the world is listening when she speaks out against the Taliban government's abuses. Ms. Seraj has a role both rarified and agonising in Afghanistan, where she returned in 2003 after around a quarter century of self-imposed exile during the Soviet occupation, civil war, and first Taliban regime. As the niece of former king Amanullah Khan and a high-profile elder stateswoman, she has skirted the Taliban government's clampdown on women activists since the group returned to power in August 2021. Ms. Seraj flies in and out of the country to meet with diplomats, gives impassioned speeches at the U.N., and conducts press interviews without hiding her identity -- so far untroubled.

Taliban Seraj  womens  taliban  governments  afghanistan  seraj  afghan  does  worthless  fights  fight  day  activist  returned  hiding  selfdoubt

History of this topic

'Afghanistan is facing gender-based apartheid, world must come together to address it'
2 months ago

'Afghanistan is facing gender-based apartheid, world must come together to address it'

Firstpost  

In an exclusive conversation with Firstpost, Afghan human rights activist Mahbouba Seraj narrates how the Taliban’s new ban has taken the country by surprise On October 26, the women in Afghanistan faced another brunt from the Taliban regime after they were barred from technically “hearing each other”. The Taliban’s Minister of Vice and Virtue, Khalid Hanafi, issued a new ban …

Taliban's Diplomatic Offensive: A Step Towards Women's Rights in Afghanistan
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Taliban's Diplomatic Offensive: A Step Towards Women's Rights in Afghanistan

Firstpost  

The Taliban's diplomatic recognition in the international arena has brought positive attention to the country, with several countries welcoming Taliban diplomats and establishing diplomatic ties. However, the question of women's rights remains unanswered, with the Taliban barring women from attending a major UN conference in Doha. This move has been met with mixed reactions, with some optimistic about the potential …

An Afghan Woman Activist’s Visit to Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan
6 months, 2 weeks ago

An Afghan Woman Activist’s Visit to Taliban-Ruled Afghanistan

The Diplomat  

Amid Afghanistan's turbulent transition under Taliban rule, Zerka Malyar, a former Kabul prosecutor and advocate for women’s rights, embarked on a bold mission. Their objective: to advocate for the resumption of girls’ education in the country and confront Taliban officials on critical issues of women’s civil liberties. Malyar and her team sought to confront the Taliban on the critical issue …

Afghan women, undeterred by Taliban, secretly network for change
2 years, 1 month ago

Afghan women, undeterred by Taliban, secretly network for change

Al Jazeera  

For months, Shamail Naseri has been moving house-to-house to evade arrest by Taliban authorities. Naseri, along with other women’s activists, has been actively involved in providing support to vulnerable Afghan women after the Taliban-led Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan government dissolved critical state support structures like the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and after key organisations, including the largest network of women’s …

‘Leaders have gone silent’: Malala calls for UK to help oppressed Afghan women
2 years, 1 month ago

‘Leaders have gone silent’: Malala calls for UK to help oppressed Afghan women

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on the UK Government …

Empowering Afghan Women and Their Civil Resistance
2 years, 2 months ago

Empowering Afghan Women and Their Civil Resistance

The Diplomat  

After the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the international community lost everything that it had invested in the last two decades in Afghanistan. The military resistance on the ground, supported by neighboring countries, and the international community’s stance against the Taliban’s strict rules gave Afghan women hope for resistance. Some Survival Strategies To support Afghan women who still fight …

Why the Taliban’s war on women is gravest women’s rights crisis in world
2 years, 4 months ago

Why the Taliban’s war on women is gravest women’s rights crisis in world

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Experts came together for a highly emotional event hosted …

Arrested, abducted and tortured: The Taliban betray their promises on women
2 years, 10 months ago

Arrested, abducted and tortured: The Taliban betray their promises on women

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. ‘Taliban are trying to erase women from society’ Samira …

Taliban confirm reports of four women killed in northern Afghanistan
3 years, 2 months ago

Taliban confirm reports of four women killed in northern Afghanistan

India Today  

Four women have been found dead in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, a spokesman for Afghanistan's Taliban government said on Saturday, following reports that activists had been killed. Two suspects have been arrested after the four bodies were found at a house in the city's fifth police district, interior ministry spokesman Qari Saeed Khosti said in a video statement. Read …

Afghan women’s losing battle to remain visible under Taliban
3 years, 3 months ago

Afghan women’s losing battle to remain visible under Taliban

Al Jazeera  

Kabul, Afghanistan – Marzia Hamidi, a 19-year-old Afghan taekwondoin, had big plans. Many women fear a return to enforced invisibility they lived under for five years when the Taliban controlled Afghanistan last. When the Taliban came to power, it promised to respect women and allow them to participate in public life “in accordance with Islamic law”, but secondary schools remain …

Taliban replaces ministry for women with one restricting them
3 years, 3 months ago

Taliban replaces ministry for women with one restricting them

LA Times  

Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers set up a ministry for the “propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice” in the building that once housed the Women’s Affairs Ministry, escorting out World Bank staffers Saturday as part of the forced move. In Kabul, a new sign was up outside the women’s affairs ministry, announcing it was now the “Ministry for Preaching …

Hear the voices of the women of Afghanistan
3 years, 4 months ago

Hear the voices of the women of Afghanistan

Hindustan Times  

Amid the violence in Afghanistan, the fate of women in what is already a de facto Islamic Emirate has received inadequate attention. I spoke to Mahbouba Siraj, president of the board of the Afghan Women’s Network and human rights activist who lives in Kabul. Yes, we heard a lot of talk about human rights for women from world leaders but …

Won't give up, say female boxer, singer and journalist from Afghanistan post Taliban takeover
3 years, 4 months ago

Won't give up, say female boxer, singer and journalist from Afghanistan post Taliban takeover

India Today  

In their first official press conference since they took control of Kabul on August 15, the Taliban had vowed to protect women's rights "within the limits" of Islamic law in Afghanistan. ‘MY GOAL IS TO WIN OLYMPIC MEDAL FOR AFGHANISTAN’ Seema Rezai, an 18-year-old boxer with the word ‘boxer’ tattooed on her wrist, is a member of Afghanistan’s national boxing …

Afghan Woman Says It's A Relief That The U.S. Is Gone. That Chapter Is Over
3 years, 4 months ago

Afghan Woman Says It's A Relief That The U.S. Is Gone. That Chapter Is Over

NPR  

Afghan Woman Says It's A Relief That The U.S. Is Gone. That Chapter Is Over NPR's A Martínez checks back in with Mahbooba Seraj, founder of the Afghan Women's Network, about the mood in Afghanistan as the last of the U.S. troops left the country. She's the founder of the Afghan Women's Network, and she made the decision to stay …

Twitterati divided as Mahika Sharma tweets she'd tie rakhis to the Taliban
3 years, 4 months ago

Twitterati divided as Mahika Sharma tweets she'd tie rakhis to the Taliban

India TV News  

Actress Mahika Sharma, expressing her sadness over reports that the Taliban are torturing women in Afghanistan, tweeted on Sunday that she would tie rakhis to them so that they learnt to to respect women. She says: "The Taliban never got love from their mothers or sisters, that is why they have become criminals. In our history many stories have taught …

‘I prefer to die than to go with them’: Afghan women dread Taliban rule
3 years, 4 months ago

‘I prefer to die than to go with them’: Afghan women dread Taliban rule

LA Times  

Tamana Bahar was a toddler when the Taliban first ruled Afghanistan. “The only hope I have is you.” Taliban officials who appeared Tuesday on state television and at a briefing in Kabul said women’s rights would be respected within the boundaries of sharia, or Islamic law. I am deeply worried about women, minorities and human rights advocates,” Yousafzai wrote on …

She Is Staying In Afghanistan To Ensure Women's Gains Aren't Lost Under Taliban Rule
3 years, 4 months ago

She Is Staying In Afghanistan To Ensure Women's Gains Aren't Lost Under Taliban Rule

NPR  

She Is Staying In Afghanistan To Ensure Women's Gains Aren't Lost Under Taliban Rule Enlarge this image toggle caption Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images From 1996 to 2001, when the Taliban previously held power in Afghanistan, women and girls were denied basic rights, such as the ability to go to school, hold a job outside …

As US mulls Afghan exit, activist sees long fight for women
3 years, 10 months ago

As US mulls Afghan exit, activist sees long fight for women

Associated Press  

KABUL, Afghanistan — Prominent activist Sima Samar has been fighting for women’s rights in Afghanistan for the past 40 years. “They should be at least brave enough to say ‘I am sorry.’ That’s a start.” Samar said Afghanistan needs involvement by international community going forward, to make sure that promises made are kept and that cease-fires are monitored independently. “These …

Fears of Taliban’s return haunt Afghan women
5 years, 9 months ago

Fears of Taliban’s return haunt Afghan women

The Hindu  

The fifth phase of meetings between Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S.’s special envoy for peace, and Taliban leaders concluded earlier this month. “We consider woman as the builders of a Muslim society and are committed to all rights of women that have been given to them by the sacred religion of Islam,” Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, a Taliban leader, said during …

'We never want to go back': Women in Afghanistan fear for their freedom as US and Taliban move toward peace deal
5 years, 11 months ago

'We never want to go back': Women in Afghanistan fear for their freedom as US and Taliban move toward peace deal

Firstpost  

Women in Afghanistan’s Kabul fear that any peace deal between the Taliban and the US could erode hard-won freedoms. Kabul: It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women’s rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms. “The …

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