Women+in+Afghanistan

Team Leader: Kim Group Members: Sarah and Basil
 * Women in Afghanistan **




 * The Roles of Afghan Women **
 * take care or children
 * cook
 * clean
 * sew and weave
 * harvest, plow, look over the animals (when men are at war)


 * Afghan Women Through the Years **
 * Rule of Muhammad Nadir Shah (1929-1933) - did not want to upset tribal leaders so he acted on their requests. He banned the only newspaper published by the Afghan women //Jarideh Zanan//
 * Rule of Mohammad Zahir Shah (1933-1973) ﻿- 1st secondary female school was established in Kabul, women did not have to cover their bodies at all times, constitution gave women the right to vote. Miss Afghanistan competition and Democratic Organization of Afghan women was established in 1965.
 * Presidency of Mohammad Daoud Khan ﻿(1973 -1978) - increased personal freedoms and rights for women (limited in Kabul & major cities, where women were still oppressed)
 * Communist Rule (1978 )- education for girls
 * Afghan-Soviet War- (1979-1989)- many women and children are killed, women are granted rights but many do not enjoy them
 * Mujahideen government and civil war (1992 - 1996) - women could work and obtain an education (teachers, doctors, professional careers)
 * Taliban (1996-2001)


 * The Taliban and Afghan Women **
 * Pashtun extremists
 * Seized control of Kabul on September 27,1996
 * "totalitarian dictatorship and gender apartheid in which women and girls were stripped of their basic human rights"


 * Laws made for Women under the Taliban's rule **
 * women could no longer work
 * women could not attend school or universities
 * women could not leave their homes unless they were accompanied by a male relative (close)
 * windows were painted black and women had to wear burquas (body completely covered only room for eyes to see out)
 * women could not be examined my male doctors and no women doctors were able to practice either


 * Consequences for Breaking the Laws **
 * Ran away from home- killed infront of her family and friends
 * Tried to leave Afghanistan with a man who was not her husband- stoned to death (adultery)
 * Exposed skin- brutally beaten
 * Death- women could not be treated for curable ailments
 * Prostitution- public hanging


 * Afghan Women Today **
 * After the Taliban, women were able to get an education and reenter the workforce
 * Women are still abused (government too weak to inforce laws)
 * Girls make up a 3rd of the 3 million children who have gone back to school
 * (2004)- New Constitution- Islamic Republic
 * "The citizens of Afghanistan – whether man or woman – have equal rights and duties before the law."
 * "The constitution also requires 50% of the members of the Meshrano Jirga that the President appoints must be women."
 * (2008)- 1st Political Party in Afghanistan dedicated to womens rights "National Need" founded by Fatima Nazari

** Revolutionary Association of the Women in Afghanistan (RAWA) **
 * Founded by Meena Keshwar Kamal in 1977
 * later assassinated by Afghan agenents of the KGB (1987)
 * "independent political/social organization of Afghan women fighting for human rights and for social justice in Afghanistan"
 * Contributions to society
 * schools for boys and girls
 * hospital (refugee Afghan women and children)
 * nursing, literacy, and vocational training courses


 * Sanaubar **


 * included in “The Kite Runner” because she represents the women portrayed in the Qur’an
 * If she is unfaithful to her husband, it is not seen as the other man’s fault. It was Sanaubar’s “brilliant green eyes and impish face [that] had, rumor has it, tempted countless men into sin” and her “suggestive stride and oscillating hips [that] sent men into reveries of infidelity.” It was her fault, not theirs.

Women in the Qur'an

 * women are granted some rights, but only within the discretion of men
 * "Allah directs you in regard of your Children's (inheritance): to the male, a portion equal to that of two females.... These are settled portions ordained by Allah." (Qur’an 4:11)
 * "And get two witnesses out of your own men. And if there are not two men (available), then a man and two women [a man is worth two women, and one man is always needed], such as you agree for witnesses, so that if one of them (two women) errs, the other can remind her” (Qur’an 2:282)
 * "Say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty except what (must) appear; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display them except to their husbands..." (Qur’an 24:31)
 * "Force not your slave-girls to whoredom (prostitution) if they desire chastity, that you may seek enjoyment of this life. But if anyone forces them, then after such compulsion, Allah is oft-forgiving." (Qur’an 24:34)
 * Thus, women are granted some rights. Their chosen professions are not addressed. The presented material can be interpreted by Muslims in many ways. Some may allow women many freedoms, including occupations that would otherwise be dominated by men (such as teaching or holding governmental office). Forty years ago, 70% of Afghani teachers were women, as were 40% of Afghani doctors. Other nations can also comply with the Qur’an’s teachings and grant women far less freedom. However, the Qur’an also states:
 * “Be careful of your duty toward God in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bear you)” (Qur’an 4:1)
 * The Qur’an thus orders its disciples to honor and respect women. The methods, however, are up to interpretation by each nation.

Before the Taliban came into power, women enjoyed freedoms and rights comparable to those in western societies. In rural areas, however, many women were unprotected by laws, and were mistreated according to a more chauvinistic interpretation of the Qur’an.

When the Taliban rose to power, they forbade girls and women from traveling alone, going to school, and getting jobs. Women were mistreated. Maternal mortality rates rose. Women were once again treated as property.


 * Misinterpretations on Women in Islam **

o ** Mothers ** >
 * Women in Islam are indeed the key to paradise
 * Believers of Islam are taught that paradise is at the feet of thy mothers (Al-Tirmidhi)
 * o Justice Within Islam **
 * The act of a “honor killing” any believer, both man or woman is unjustifiable and prohibited; surely it is an act of murder
 * The Quran clearly broadcast that “Whoever kills a believer intentionally, their reward will be Hell, to abide therein forever, and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon them, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for them." (Holy Quran, Chapter 4, Verse 93)”
 * These “honor killings” are usually carried out against a female family member who is accused by relatives as dishonoring their family through serious acts of indiscretion, such as sex before marriage or unapproved dating.
 * In many cases of "honor killings", the accused woman turns out to be innocent, and are killed based off of pure suspicion
 * Know matter how it is dressed up, “honor killings” are trifling cruel and unusual crimes
 * There is no historical background in Islam for "honor killings". No verse in the holy Quran and no saying of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh)which condones such crimes
 * o Misinterpetations **
 * Muslim exemtremist interprets what the "islamic law" consists of
 * Coincidently, only the men are the dictatators of what the Quran implies
 * Surprisingly, alot of Muslim scholars are behind the translation of the Quran.
 * Their been cases of many scholars using harsh words (towards women) within the Quran during the translation process.
 * Instead of following the Quran directly, many Muslims follow "hadiths"
 * "Haidths" are sayings of the Prophet Mohammad or his companions.
 * Editor of hadith, Tirmidhi (821-894), a student of Bukhari, though not having as high a status as his teacher, records this tradition:" //You have a right in the matter of your wives that they do not allow anyone whom you do not like to come into your houses; if they do this, chastise them in such a manner that it should not leave an impression."//
 * The errors of the translations have cuased many senseless deaths brought to muslim women worldwide
 * The tragedy contiunes not just in Afghanistan, but all around the world
 * The question is not why is this happening, but how can we stop it?

Video of girls going to school during the Talibans Rule media type="custom" key="8501876" align="center"

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