Dr. Sima Samar is an icon for women in Afghanistan, as well as she has been able to draw admiration from feminists worldwide. Her impudence in supporting the human and women’s rights have raised condemnation from extremists. Although she has done a lot towards the emancipation of native women yet much work needs to be done in the regard.
She said that though things have changed for women as compared to Taliban regime yet some regions experiences violation of women rights like forced marriage, child marriage, restrictions on movement, job discrimination and child abduction and trafficking.
Talking about the judicial system she said that women have nearly no access to law enforcement and every now and then they are victimized to domestic violence. The women who run away from abusive family male members end up in jail or are slaughtered by a family member. The family is then immune from prosecution for this ‘honor’ killing. In order to escape these situations, women try to commit suicide and burn themselves.
She also talked about the political scenario, she said that women had victories in the parliamentary elections, still, there are no women among the advisors to the president and there is now only one woman in the Cabinet.
If women are not part of decision making bodies, men won’t be able to take such decisions that would positively affect the women folk because they won’t be able to understand women’s problems. She advocated for the solidarity for the women which is very essential for a progressive nation.
Comments
Reading about the emancipation of native Afghan women, one has to question if the time is ripe for such a deep-rooted change in this society? While losing their battle in spite of their technical supremacy, the West has now resolved to instrumentalise women to hasten a democratic development which they need.
Even in Europe this process took not only time but also its toll. Plus the pace was not dictated from outside but within. Afghan women are being manipulated in a movement to emancipate during a time the environment is in extreme opposition to any such developments.
The emancipation process brings about major changes for families and society. And like every development, such change would take time and require a deep-rooted personal growth from within. During the process of attaining emancipation women go through and experience at each is every step a natural fear of existence. This process needs support from the women’s families and society without which no woman could survive.
Even in the West emancipation was not popular amongst all women! Until today several Western women prefer their protected lives in their homes, to the harsh and competitive world outside.
To not expose women to life-threatening situations, as in the case of Nilofar Bakhtiar, the tourism minister of Pakistan; one should aim at bringing about emancipation to their society. Fortunately in her position Nilofar Bakhtiar has the support and protection of Pakistani government and can carry on with an almost normal life. Yet, she remains exposed to radical threats around her in spite of this support.
This picture becomes very different when a woman exposes herself without the support of her family. Her life is not only in great danger but she is very often totally isolated. Other than the media which exploits such stories out of selfish reasons, as in the case of Mukhtaran Mai, where she has been catapulted into a role to bring about change and protect women like her. I am not sure if she really desired this role. Where I am certain, is that the story will bring entertainment for the West rather than change in the villager’s lives.
A paradox is that although the West is demanding democracy in Afghanistan, simultaneously the country is infiltrated by Wahabism, in the grips of a radical Islam which is being propagated and tolerated by the West in Saudi Arabia; this radical form of Islam which besieged communism and perhaps also democracy?
A fundamental and intolerant form of Islam with its ideological roots in Saudi Arabia; a regime whose priorities lie clearly with oil and USA and not with any developments or changes; their fundamental and radical thinking protected, generated and spread worldwide, which is being cajoled in Saudi society!
Why should Afghan women go thorough this life-threatening process and risk their necks at the whim of the West? I wish all women be it in their homes or outside, more than anything else a hearty support of their families, and their ability to find a life of their choice and preference, instead of a life dictated by anyone other than them-selves. The ability to go through the process of inner and outer development with out it’s pace being dictated from elsewhere.