Treatment of Afghan Women: According To Islam
According To The Quran
In theory, Islam has given both men and women the same rights. In the creation story they are created as equals, as is stated in the Quran, Sura 42, verse 11:
"(He is) the Creator of Heaven and the Earth: He has made for you a pair from among yourselves..."
Women are not just treated equally in the creation story, they also are given the same spiritual status as men, as stated in the Quran, Sura 33, verse 35:
"For Muslim men and women- For believing men and women. For devoted men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast ( and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah praise- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward."
Women also have the same obligation as men to achieve knowledge and wisdom, as is stated in the Quran, Sura 35, Verse 28:
"Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge."
"(He is) the Creator of Heaven and the Earth: He has made for you a pair from among yourselves..."
Women are not just treated equally in the creation story, they also are given the same spiritual status as men, as stated in the Quran, Sura 33, verse 35:
"For Muslim men and women- For believing men and women. For devoted men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in charity, for men and women who fast ( and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah praise- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward."
Women also have the same obligation as men to achieve knowledge and wisdom, as is stated in the Quran, Sura 35, Verse 28:
"Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge."
According To Recent Years Before The Taliban
Before the Taliban rose to power, women were afforded a plethora of rights that they currently do not possess. In The 1920s they were given the right to vote, and by the 1960s the Afghan constitution gave women equality. By 1977, 15% of the highest legislative body in Afghanistan were women. By the early 1990s estimates show that 70% of school teachers, 50% of government workers and university students, and 40% of the doctors in Kabul were all women.
According To Recent Years Since The Taliban
The Taliban became known in 1994, and proceeded to take over the Afghan capital of Kabul in 1996. Since coming to power the Taliban have placed strict laws upon women according to a misinterpretation of the Islamic law.
Once coming to power, the Taliban closed women's universities and forced virtually all women to quit their jobs. Women were not allowed to leave their homes unless they were accompanied by a man, nor were they allowed in public without wearing a burqa, or a body-covering shroud which leaves only the eye holes visible. Women were not allowed to see male physicians, and yet all women doctors were forced to quit being doctors.
Once coming to power, the Taliban closed women's universities and forced virtually all women to quit their jobs. Women were not allowed to leave their homes unless they were accompanied by a man, nor were they allowed in public without wearing a burqa, or a body-covering shroud which leaves only the eye holes visible. Women were not allowed to see male physicians, and yet all women doctors were forced to quit being doctors.
Sources
undefined. (November 17, 2001.). The Taliban's War Against Women. In U.S. Department of State. Retrieved September 24, 2011., from http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/6185.htm.
Shorish-Shamley, Z. (n.d.). Women's Position, Role, And Rights In Islam. In Afghanistan Online. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://www.afghan-web.com/articles/womenrights.html.
(n.d.). Quran. In Quran. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://quran.com/.
. (n.d.). Campaign for Afghan Women & Girls. In Feminist Majority. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://feminist.org/afghan/taliban_women.asp.
Shorish-Shamley, Z. (n.d.). Women's Position, Role, And Rights In Islam. In Afghanistan Online. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://www.afghan-web.com/articles/womenrights.html.
(n.d.). Quran. In Quran. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://quran.com/.
. (n.d.). Campaign for Afghan Women & Girls. In Feminist Majority. Retrieved September 24, 2011, from http://feminist.org/afghan/taliban_women.asp.
