Women of Afghanistan

Cutting across seemingly every political and religious line, the world reacted in horror to the shelling and destruction of ancient Buddhist statues in Afghanistan by its ruling zealots, the Taliban.

Appeals from nations and organizations worldwide went unheeded.

The Taliban are deeply orthodox about their Islamic beliefs, citing Muhammad's ordering the destruction of all idols after the seizure of Mecca in 630.

That the world has reacted with such alarm to this assault upon historic preservation, religious diversity and tolerance almost minimizes what is the largest outrage committed by this rabid cult of Islam.

The transgression the Taliban have committed against religious objects pales before their worst infamy: the dehumanization of the female gender. Ever since their takeover of most of Afghanistan in 1996, the Taliban have ruled their territories with an iron fist, imposing severe restrictions on women and a few on men.

Columnist Ellen Goodman once referred to the denigration of Afghan women as gender genocide. The Taliban call it gender apartheid. Neither genocide nor apartheid can be accepted in today's more enlightened world.

Afghan women are not allowed in public without the head-to-toe burka and a male relative; they cannot attend school or hold jobs. Where once 40 percent of the doctors in Afghanistan were women, they no longer are allowed to enter the profession. And male doctors are not allowed to treat women. The litany of abuse is enormous and medieval.

This is a far greater crime against civilization than the destruction of statues, however ancient and valued.

The world does not stand by speechless but it seems helpless.

There remains civil war in Afghanistan; the Taliban have not yet eliminated its internal military opposition. They also harbor the terroist Bin Laden. Surely, something can be done to weaken their stranglehold.

The timorous United Nations will pass a few resolutions condemning the destruction of the statues, restate some they had about the abuse of Afghan women, and call for restrictions on arms and supplies sent to that country.

It is not enough. Something needs to be done immediately about what has happened to, and still is happening to, the women there.

The statues can be recast later.

- Howard Kleinberg, Cox Newspapers

This editorial appeared in the Democrat & Chronicle March 6, 2001.

Click on these organizations to find out how you can help. The United Nations The Feminist Majority Foundation Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan The Women's Alliance for Peace and Human Rights in Afghanistan	Afghan Women Need Worldwide Help Cutting across seemingly every political and religious line, the world reacted in horror to the shelling and destruction of ancient Buddhist statues in Afghanistan by its ruling zealots, the Taliban. Appeals from nations and organizations worldwide went unheeded. The Taliban are deeply orthodox about their Islamic beliefs, citing Muhammad's ordering the destruction of all idols after the seizure of Mecca in 630. That the world has reacted with such alarm to this assault upon historic preservation, religious diversity and tolerance almost minimizes what is the largest outrage committed by this rabid cult of Islam. The transgression the Taliban have committed against religious objects pales before their worst infamy: the dehumanization of the female gender. Ever since their takeover of most of Afghanistan in 1996, the Taliban have ruled their territories with an iron fist, imposing severe restrictions on women and a few on men. Columnist Ellen Goodman once referred to the denigration of Afghan women as gender genocide. The Taliban call it gender apartheid. Neither genocide nor apartheid can be accepted in today's more enlightened world. Afghan women are not allowed in public without the head-to-toe burka and a male relative; they cannot attend school or hold jobs. Where once 40 percent of the doctors in Afghanistan were women, they no longer are allowed to enter the profession. And male doctors are not allowed to treat women. The litany of abuse is enormous and medieval. This is a far greater crime against civilization than the destruction of statues, however ancient and valued. The world does not stand by speechless but it seems helpless. There remains civil war in Afghanistan; the Taliban have not yet eliminated its internal military opposition. They also harbor the terroist Bin Laden. Surely, something can be done to weaken their stranglehold. The timorous United Nations will pass a few resolutions condemning the destruction of the statues, restate some they had about the abuse of Afghan women, and call for restrictions on arms and supplies sent to that country. It is not enough. Something needs to be done immediately about what has happened to, and still is happening to, the women there. The statues can be recast later. - Howard Kleinberg, Cox Newspapers This editorial appeared in the Democrat & Chronicle March 6, 2001. Return to Home Page	Click on these sites for further information Stop Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan Women in Afghanistan - a human rights catastrophe Stop the Abuse of Women and Girls in Afghanistan! The Plight of Afghan Women Reports from fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan Report from the Land of Tragedies