Last night while watching television the heart sunk to its bottom. The eyes of thousands have swollen by witnessing the grave situation of Afghanistan. Everyday news telecasted shows how gruesome the place has become ever since the Talibani attacks. The latest target is the women of the country. Ever since Afghanistan gained its freedom from Taliban rule in 2001, women have long fought for their rights to freedom. Their rights were recognized and freedom was made easier for them. But again we are seeing the horrifying news of women's oppression in the country.

Women's movements across the world have always been targeted for their freedom. The recent situations in Taliban-occupied Afghanistan have been bizarre! Not only the Afghans are being harassed for staying in their motherland, but also a major amount of torture is being done on the female population. There is an ongoing terrifying uncertainty that women are presently in.

The Taliban government has been reportedly declaring the international media about the freedom they are offering to the women under the Sharia law, but now the ground reality is totally different. They reported that the condition of women in the ‘Taliban 2.0’ rule would be better. But nothing of that sort seems to be happening. Now the question is whether the women should trust their words or their actions?

The horrific propaganda of the Taliban rulers is eating up the female community. They have lost their rights and freedom which they had gained after so many efforts. This needs to be brought to the notice of the world. After all, what are the women being considered- slaves? Shouldn’t they be given equal opportunities? Is it appropriate to restrict them from humanism?

You answer it for yourself…if you have to face challenges in everyday activities despite being financially sound, how long could you survive in such a place?

The same is the case with Afghan women. How long will this go on? Is the world listening and responding? If not, then let’s look at how the oppression is affecting women:

• Education- education is the most basic requirement for everyone. Who can survive in society without being educated enough? Education is not gender-dominated. It is the goldmine to be received by everyone. But it seems like the Taliban government isn’t aware of these facts. That’s why it has barred young girls from education. The future of these youngsters awaits confirmation from the Taliban.

There is no other way for them to voice their opinion. The Taliban government has very cleverly removed every matter in question. They are not using the means of violence on girls to prevent them from going to school, instead, they are sanctioning their freedom in another way. For example, in some areas, it has been seen that the families are fined for letting their girls out.

Is this the kind of freedom the Taliban was talking about? Are the eyes of the international authorities totally closed? The vicious motive of the government is clearly visible here: once the women are barred from basic education they will not know their rights in the future.

• Work- you have to be a brave woman to protest in the streets of Kabul these days for your rights. Especially if your rights include work, then the Taliban-led government will hardly give you any importance. Why are we still fantasizing that the Taliban has changed since its first invasion?

As of 2021, 27% of the Afghanistan Parliament were held by women, but now they are being forced to leave their workplace. They have been dismissed from the jobs and deregulated from public areas. Why do they have to take a male guardian with them every time they walk out of the house? If not wearing a hijab, are they liable to be murdered? What is all this mess around?

Why isn’t the Taliban clearing its intentions yet? Many women fear that once the international diplomacies walk out of Afghanistan, the country would be locked up. Then the real terror of rule will begin. The beauty salons and other places of female get-togethers are already being closed, painted over, and dismissed by the Taliban. What is to be seen next?

• Journalism- journalism is the mirror of society, and in every possible way, the Taliban is taking measures to undermine Afghan journalists. The severe impact is witnessed on female journalists as they ask for their rights to be restored. The television screens and the newspapers scream about the helplessness of women captivated there. Is it justifiable for them to leave their rights procured after so much struggle?

• Early marriage and other brutal attacks- reportedly the militants are forcing little girls to marry by attacking them brutally or taking them away from their families. I wonder how the helpless families of these girls would be able to save them from the Talibani militants. Has the world turned deaf and blind to the condition of Afghanistan? Where are all the so-called powerful nations which promised freedom to the Taliban?

The Taliban has completely forgotten that women are the pillars of any society and no development is possible without their development.

They are just using their vicious and clever methods to captivate them and stop any further development of the country.

A future filled with protests:

As time passes, it will become legitimate for the women to protest. Read Terror calling: Afghanistan crisis to update yourself with the current situation of the terror struck the region.

I’m voicing my opinion about the decline in women's freedom and I expect the same from everybody reading this. Don’t turn your backs on the situation because now is the time for impactful international communities to unite and solve the crisis. A rock could not be turned by one, but a union of many.

The Taliban, at present, is speaking what the international authorities want to hear but the ground reality is known only by the people. It’s really hard to understand how the media is believing the fanatics created by the Taliban-led government.

If there will be no activists or journalists who will report the countrymen about the gruesome acts? If there will be no beauty salons how will women get together as a group to enjoy basic stuff? Why is it necessary for them to be accompanied by a male guardian every time they go out, even in the 21st century?

You’re free to voice your reasons and leave your feedback on this issue in the comment section below. It’s high time that the common public around the world as well as the international communities come out at the front to support the Afghan citizens. If not today then it will never happen, and there will be another long time for them to avail basic rights.