MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Amed- The Taliban began to implement the Sharia law after taking the control of Afghanistan. Afghan women, who don’t accept the bans against them after the statements made by the spokespersons of the Taliban, take to the streets to protest the Taliban. Female journalists working for a state-owned broadcaster in Afghanistan have said the Taliban are not allowing them to work. Jinnews editor Gülşen Koçuk commented on the situation of women journalists and people living in Afghanistan. She called for measures to be taken to protect press freedom in the country.

“There is no difference between ISIS and Taliban”

Stating that what is going on in Afghanistan is a reflection of what has been going on in the Middle East for a long time, Gülşen Koçuk said that the people of Middle East faced the practices of ISIS before the Taliban. “When thinking of these practices, we can say that there is no difference between ISIS and Taliban. When the Taliban took the control of the country, they issued statements claiming that they would respect women’s rights within the framework of Islamic law. We can say that these statements are more moderate attacks on women's rights.”

“Women see the truth behind moderate politics”

Speaking about the difficulties faced by women in the country, Gülşen Koçuk said, “Since the Taliban first took the control of Kabul, we have received many reports saying that women and female journalists are not allowed to work and girls are banned from going to school. These practices are the practices of ISIS. But the Taliban try to do this by using more moderate politics but the Afghan women are aware of these politics. The women are aware that this is an attack on their gained rights. They see the truth behind moderate politics.”

“Afghan women struggle for their gained rights”

“Afghan women need women’s solidarity,” Gülşen Koçuk said that they have been in contact with several Afghan women and these women don’t expect anything from the states. “Afghan women believe in themselves to protect their rights.  They struggle for their gained rights by taking to the streets.”

“Common struggle is stronger than fears”

Emphasizing that borders can be removed through solidarity and common struggle, Gülşen Koçuk called on all women and women’s organizations all around the world;

“We saw how women’s struggle could remove the borders. We can do the same thing for female journalists. A common struggle is stronger than fears. In this century, we have a women’s struggle without borders. We, as women journalists working in the Middle East, get strength from this struggle. I get strength from female Afghan women and want to empower them.”