How Women Reacted to the Taliban Seizure of Afghanistan
The sudden Taliban seizure of Afghanistan last week shook the entire world. The Taliban have taken control of Afghanistan, almost 20 years after being ousted by a US-led military coalition. However, days after the fall of capital city Kabul, nations were hurriedly evacuating their diplomats and citizens, leaving behind two decades of work and investments. The images and videos of the desperate Afghan nationals trying to flee the country were surfacing the internet.
While the Taliban has vowed to respect women’s rights 'within the bounds of Islamic law', many remain skeptical. Here is what women around the world think about this.
We watch in complete shock as Taliban takes control of Afghanistan. I am deeply worried about women, minorities and human rights advocates. Global, regional and local powers must call for an immediate ceasefire, provide urgent humanitarian aid and protect refugees and civilians.
— Malala (@Malala) August 15, 2021
Enough!!!
Stop communal profiling of people desparately searching for a refuge!
Open doors for every Afghani person! Resist communal politics in times of great humanitarian disaster unfolding infront of the world! @BJP4India are you the Indian Taliban?https://t.co/B0tYfdv6yQ— sucheta de (@sucheta_ml) August 16, 2021
How terrible that Afghan women face life in the prison that’s Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. That Taliban PC everyone’s so impressed by? That’s where Taliban announced it will “allow” women to study etc but will impose “limits”. Dudes nothing in that is reassuring! https://t.co/zYGjzRa3oh
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) August 19, 2021
We can’t be okay with Hindutva terror & be all shocked & devastated at Taliban terror.. &
We can’t be chill with #Taliban terror; and then be all indignant about #Hindutva terror!
Our humanitarian & ethical values should not be based on identity of the oppressor or oppressed.— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) August 16, 2021
In other news, MJ Akbar, the former editor and union minister who was accused of sexual harassment by several women in 2018, has joined WION, an English TV news channel run by Zee Media. Women personalities came forward to react to this.
"Men's lives are ruined by the #MeToo movement"
https://t.co/Rwx36oEuxO— #MeTooIndia (@IndiaMeToo) August 18, 2021
The re-emergence of serial sexual predator MJ Akbar in a newsroom is disturbing. ~20 women have come forward to share their stories. And now journalists at news outlet WION say that Akbar has been attending editorial meetings.
— Pallavi Gogoi (@pgogoi) August 18, 2021
"Notwithstanding certain #MeToo cases".... This is how men normalizse sexual harassment and enable other men so that the cycle of abuse continues. https://t.co/PBgfHMUVtf
— Rituparna Chatterjee (@MasalaBai) August 19, 2021
Recently, a Sessions Mumbai court observed that the husband having sex with wife against her wishes not illegal. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada commented on this.
The woman allegedly has been paralysed waist down post this sexual assault by the husband and apparently that’s not his fault. Ayyo paavam. https://t.co/7ViFonY6NL
— Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) August 15, 2021
Radio station Red FM Mumbai and its radio jockey Malishka Mendonsa aka RJ Malishka were drawn into controversies after a video of her with other women staffs dancing with roses in hand became viral in the internet. This happened before starting the interview with the Olympian Neeraj Chopra. Many slammed it as cringe-worthy.
Ugggh! Cringe max. So basically you are perpetuating the stereotype that the man is the real achiever and women are mere mujrewalis dancing to get his attention! How sick and sexist is this. Also, you guys can’t dance to save your life.
— Shefali Vaidya. 🇮🇳 (@ShefVaidya) August 20, 2021
Dear @mymalishka
How would your feminist self react if a female athlete was shown a dance by 5-6 male RJs on "ude jab jab zulfein teri" & by the end they asked her "zyaada to nahi cheda na aapko humne" ??
Please answer since you've been quite vocal on idea of gender equality— Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) August 19, 2021
