BAHARAN LAHIB

Kabul- Crimes against women in Afghanistan have become more institutionalized since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan on August 15, 2021. For more than four decades, Afghan women have suffered from the patriarchal mindset and fundamentalists such as the Taliban and jihadi groups, which have used every opportunity to systematically oppress women in the name of “Afghan culture” and the guise of “Islam”.

Today, Afghan women, especially women riding motorcycles, in Kabul are subjected to ridicule and humiliation. The members of the Taliban stationed on the roadside throw dirty water on women riding motorcycles to spread fear among them. Many women facing this practice think that acid was thrown on them. They jump off their motorcycles and scream in fear. But minutes later, they hear the loud laughter of the members of the Taliban.

Women riding motorcycles in Kabul see this practice as a threat against them, warning that this practice can be turned into acid attacks.  

“One day, my husband and I were riding a motorcycle and we were going to visit a relative,” said Gulghuti Naseri. “When we were on our way, someone threw something on my face. I was in fear, taking off my veil and screamed. Then, my husband and I saw a member of the Taliban holding a gun in one hand and a bottle of very dirty water in the other. When he saw how terrified I was, he laughed loudly and mocked me.”

Shakila Shams is another Afghan woman, who faced the same practice. Two armed members of the Taliban on a motorbike threw dirty water on her face while she was waiting for a taxi. “I thought that they had thrown acid on me and I was in fear. With the help of a man passing by, I washed my face with clean water. Then I realized that the members of the Taliban were standing there watching me. When I saw them standing there, watching me with a smile on their faces, I was so filled with hatred towards them. I tried to hide my fear because they become happy when they see how they spread fear among women. They want to erase women from public life.”

Silence encourages them

Despite everything, Afghan women keep struggling for freedom. They think that the international silence encourages the Taliban to attack them. They believe that they will be free one day but they have to raise their voices more until that day.