Background and History of Afghanistan:
Women's Status under the Taliban

Throughout the 20th century most Afghan political leaders have publicly acknowledged the need for reform on the status of women. At the end of 19th century king Abdul Rahman introduced a serious of laws, by using the dictates of Quran, which grants women the right to seek divorce, prohibits child and forced marriages, excessive bride prices and marriage gifts, and more. In early 1900s, King Amanullah and his wife Queen Suraya launched a serious of reforms including one on status of women in an attempt to modernize Afghan society. The first step was unveiling the women, opening of co-educational schools and encouragement of women to work outside the house. The sudden change in the status of women caused anger among the ultra conservative religious leaders and various tribesmen. A few months after the reform, one of the Pashtun tribesmen burned down the King’s palace in Kabul and initiated a revolt against the government which resulted in the downfall of Amanullah’s Kingdom in 1929. Subsequent governments adapted and approved many international human right laws and treaties on the status of women. For example, Afghanistan was among the first countries to accede the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in 1948, which in article 29 specifies that “everyone, men and women alike, has duties to the community…” Also, Afghanistan was one of the first nations to sign the Convention on the Political Rights of Women in 1966.

In 1964, under the rule of Zahir Shah, Afghanistan recognized the right of women to vote, and subsequently new policies called for expanded roles for women regarding education and career opportunities, the voluntary and gradual removal of the veil and the end to the segregation of women from the society. Education and work opportunities for women were concentrated primarily in urban areas. By the late 1970’s, women students and educators outnumbered male students and teachers in Kabul. During President Daud, Article 27 of the 1977 Constitution stated, "The entire people of Afghanistan, women and men, without discrimination have equal rights and obligations before the law."
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During the 1980’s, the Communist government legally ensured equal rights of women and men. Over subsequent years, increasing numbers of educated women worked in government and business, in industry, as doctors and diplomats, in the police and in the army, as entertainers and parliamentarians. No career was closed to women. Attitudes toward the role of women changed dramatically as education for girls and employment in public areas for women became more and more acceptable to wider segments of society.

In 1992, the Islamic Government of Afghanistan introduced some restrictions on women instructed women to dress modestly in public (covering their head, arms and legs). Following this decree the role of females in the society remained the same. Despite the factional fighting, instability and falling economic condition, women continued their activities in the workforce, schools, universities and other sectors including politics and entertainment.

This phase changed when the Taliban movement appeared on the scene. Never before, in the history of Afghanistan, have women experienced such sever restrictions and violations of their rights. Hours after taking control of major cities, Taliban’s Supreme Council issued edicts forbidding women from working outside their house, from attending school, and leaving their homes unless accompanied by a chaperone or “mahram” (husband, father, brother, or son). The edicts also ordered women to cover from head to toe in a garment with only a mesh opening to see through and to avoid wearing make up, stylish clothing, white (the color of the Taliban flag) socks or shoes, or shoes that made noise as they walked. Initially, these edicts were enforced in a haphazard manner, and varied from region to region, with more severe restrictions enforced in non-Pashtun areas and major cities. Taliban security forces were authorized to publicly punish and humiliate women if they slightly diverge from or disobey the Taliban’s Sharia laws and edicts. The punishments ranged from beating and imprisonment to stoning to death. With time women and girls in Kabul managed to adapt to the imposed changes and learned to cope with them.

NEXT: Women's Rights Under Islam