Defying the Darkness: Afghan Women Reclaim Their Rights Online

In the face of Taliban oppression, Afghan women and girls are turning to the internet to continue their education, find financial independence, and access cultural spaces.

Jul 12, 2024

Social media has become a lifeline for many women and girls in Afghanistan but not all can afford it. Credit: Learning Together - Despite facing Taliban restrictions and controlled content, Afghan women navigate a digital landscape, showcasing their strength and determination in the face of adversity

The Facts:

Three years after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Afghan women and girls have found ways to reclaim some of their lost freedoms through the internet. Banned from secondary and higher education, they have turned to online platforms to continue their learning and find ways to become financially independent. Despite the challenges, many Afghan women and girls are attending online classes, learning foreign languages with the help of AI chatbots and e-books, and even trading cryptocurrencies. They have found solace in the digital world, using YouTube to access comedy shows, fitness classes, and music videos to compensate for the closing of physical spaces like movie theaters, gyms, and the banning of music.

Tens of thousands of Afghan women and girls have been able to join online study programs despite the Taliban government's ban on female education. These online courses offer subjects ranging from English language to business and computer science, providing a way for women to continue their learning despite the government's ban on female education. The Taliban's restrictions on women's education are based on their conservative interpretation of Islamic law, even though these measures have been condemned by Islamic scholars around the world. The ban on girls' education has helped turn the Taliban into international pariahs, and many international donors have cut ties with the country, depriving it of vital humanitarian aid.

However, even this digital sanctuary is not without its challenges. Students and teachers fear the risk of crackdowns, with rumors of authorities checking phones for evidence of participation in online classes. Some have even had to resort to using fake identities to protect their safety. Many women and girls must hide their social media profiles from their families or self-censor their posts out of fear of discovery by the Taliban government. On top of all this, slow internet speeds and a lack of connectivity, especially in rural areas, further hinder their ability to fully utilize the digital space. Access to the internet remains low and uneven across Afghanistan, with 25% of men and 6% of women reporting access, and just 2% of women in rural areas having internet access.

As one woman, Beheshta, 24, expressed, "The internet is our last hope, but nothing can replace real freedom." There are worries that the Taliban may eventually find ways to further restrict or crack down on the internet, which could force Afghan women and girls to flee the country in search of greater freedom.

As Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government spokesman, acknowledged, "…Of course we want filters that reflect our Islamic values, but it's expensive — and right now money is tight." He added that the regime wants to stop users from "wasting their time." This complex stance on the internet highlights the Taliban's desire to control online content while also facing financial constraints that make implementing strict internet controls challenging.

The Taliban's efforts to gather more data on Afghan internet users through new SIM card registration requirements have raised concerns about government surveillance and crackdowns on online activities. However, the Taliban's lack of cooperation with Silicon Valley technology companies and the repeated de-platforming of their own social media accounts suggests their capabilities in controlling and monitoring online content may be limited.

The View:

The Taliban's systematic restrictions on women's rights in Afghanistan, particularly their ban on female education, are a clear and blatant violation of human rights. This regressive policy not only deprives Afghan women and girls of their fundamental right to education but also perpetuates a cycle of oppression and denies them the opportunity to reach their full potential. By turning a blind eye to the Taliban's actions, the international community has failed to hold the regime accountable for its egregious human rights abuses. The absence of meaningful consequences has only emboldened the Taliban to tighten their grip on power, reinforcing their status as one of the world's most repressive regimes for women.

This international condemnation and isolation have done little to deter the Taliban's oppressive policies, as they continue to tighten their grip on power and restrict the rights of Afghan women and girls.

The internet has become a lifeline for Afghan women and girls, allowing them to continue their education, learn new skills, and find creative outlets after being banned from secondary and higher education by the Taliban. However, their digital havens are fragile and may be short-lived, as the regime continues to tighten its control over the flow of information and communication. The international community must take decisive action to pressure the Taliban to reverse its ban on female education and respect the fundamental rights of Afghan women and girls. Failure to do so not only betrays the principles of human rights but also jeopardizes the future of an entire generation of Afghans, robbing them of the opportunity to shape their own destiny.

TLDR:

Afghan women and girls have turned to online platforms to continue their education and find financial independence after being banned from secondary and higher education by the Taliban.
Tens of thousands of Afghan women and girls have joined online study programs, learning subjects ranging from English language to business and computer science.
The digital world provides a sanctuary for Afghan women and girls, allowing them to access comedy shows, fitness classes, music videos, and other forms of entertainment.
However, the digital haven is not without its challenges, as students and teachers fear crackdowns, slow internet speeds, and the risk of government surveillance.
The Taliban's efforts to control online content and monitor internet users have raised concerns about further restrictions and the potential for Afghan women and girls to be forced to flee the country.
The international community's failure to hold the Taliban accountable for its human rights abuses has perpetuated the oppression of Afghan women and girls, and decisive action is needed to pressure the regime to reverse the ban on female education.