In 2019, I started researching non-violent resistance against the Taliban. Little did I know that just two years later, we would witness unprecedented resistance initiated and led by the women of my generation. August 15 marks three years since the Taliban took control. While we must acknowledge the atrocities against women and girls during this time, we must also applaud their resistance.
Over the past three years, the Taliban has committed severe abuses against women and girls in Afghanistan, restricting their freedoms daily. The United Nations has explicitly warned that the Taliban’s systematic gender-based oppression in Afghanistan constitutes crimes against humanity.
When the Taliban first came to power in the 1990s, they took advantage of the aftermath of a civil war. Fast forward to their return in August 2021, Afghanistan was in a comparatively better state, with Afghan women leading initiatives to develop the country and empower its people.
Regressing the progress made by Afghan women hasn’t been as straightforward this time around.
Currently, numerous women are actively involved in movements to resist Taliban rule. Through indoor and outdoor protests, artistic expressions, international advocacy, campaigns, women-centric news outlets, and even covert educational institutions, they demonstrate unwavering determination.
Soon after the Taliban seized power in 2021, women in major Afghan cities took to the streets in protest. These protests transformed into women’s movements standing up against Taliban violence and intimidation of their activism. Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) were crucial in building communities and spreading their message to global audiences.
While social media has amplified Afghan women’s voices online, it has also made them susceptible to severe online abuse. Report from the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) Afghan Witness project revealed a threefold increase in gendered hate speech and abuse directed at politically active Afghan women since the Taliban’s resurgence.
The abuse targeting Afghan women online is predominantly sexualized, causing significant mental health distress. Women interviewed reported receiving explicit messages, threats, and images, leading to fears of real-life violence.
As an Afghan woman, I understand why Afghan women are resisting, despite the tremendous sacrifices they make. Their peaceful protests are met with violence, intimidation, detention, social stigma, family estrangement, displacement, poverty, and in extreme cases, honor killings and suicides.
Yet, their voices remain strong.
The Taliban is now up against a generation of educated and ambitious women who relentlessly fight for their rights and dreams. It is our global responsibility to amplify their voices and shed light on the daily struggles of women under Taliban rule.
The journey for women protesters has been challenging, demanding constant sacrifices and risking their safety and well-being. Names like Tamana Zaryab Paryani, Parwana Ibrahimkhel, Zahra Mohammadi, Wahida Amiri, Nayera Kohistani, and Zholia Parsi were among those detained by the Taliban for resisting their oppressive regime.
Today, let us condemn the Taliban’s violence and harassment towards women but also celebrate the courageous women leading the fight for their rights and lives.