“Do Muslim Women (Still) Need Saving?”

Week Six: Afghanistan

By: Abigail Chambers, Faduma Hassan, Navsirat Kaur, Bryan Lee, Jacob Wittkamp, & Rawah Alnahi

Afghanistan Historical Context: 1978-2021 Overview

1978–1992: The Soviet Era and Civil Conflict�

1978: Communist coup led by Nur Mohammad Taraki; severe political repression, including mass arrests, torture, and summary executions.

1979: The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan to support the unstable communist regime, leading to a protracted conflict.

1988: The Geneva Accord signals the beginning of Soviet withdrawal, though conflicts persist.

1992: The government under Dr. Najibullah collapses, leading to a civil war.

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Extensive human rights abuses include over 1 million deaths, more than 5 million refugees, and 2 million internally displaced people.

Notable Incident: Mass execution of 5,000 individuals under Taraki and Amin in 1978/79, with details released in 2013.

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1992-1996: Fragmentation and Civil War

-Mujahideen factions, unable to form a stable government, engage in brutal conflict.

-The government retains limited control, mainly in Kabul; the countryside suffers from lawlessness and violence.

-All parties engage in violations of international law: civilian shelling, military raids on neighborhoods, widespread incidents of torture, rape, and summary executions.

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1996-2001: Taliban

1994: Emergence of the Taliban in Kandahar, gaining rapid territorial control.

1996: The Taliban capture Kabul and establish the Islamic Emirate, enforcing strict Sharia laws.

-Cultural crackdown: bans on music, dancing, and the destruction of cultural heritage, including artifacts.

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2001–2020: International Intervention and Ongoing Conflict

2001: Following the September 11 attacks, a US-led coalition invades, ousting the Taliban by December.

2004: Adoption of the Afghan Constitution; Hamid Karzai is elected president.

Continued violence and political instability, with high levels of civilian casualties and displacement.

2021-Present: Rapid Taliban Takeover

August 2021: The Taliban swiftly capture Kabul amid US withdrawal, leading to government collapse.

A significant humanitarian and financial crisis ensues, along with severe human rights violations, particularly against women and minorities.

History of the Taliban

• Emerged in the 1990s in Afghanistan, led by Mullah Mohammed Omar, gradually gaining control over time.
• Seized control of capital city, Kabul, in 1996, enforcing strict Islamic law
• Faced international isolation due to support to terrorist organizations
• Taliban overthrown after U.S. military campaign in 2001
• In 2015, Mullah Mohammed Omar's death was revealed, with Mullah Akhtar Mohammed Mansur assuming leadership.
• The Taliban persists as a major insurgent group, conducting frequent attacks, including notable assaults like those in Kabul in August 2015.
• Early 2020’s Taliban controls a significant territory of Afghanistan

Mullah Mohammad Omar (Deceased)

Taliban Flag

Taliban take over Afghanistan

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• The Taliban's rise to power in mid-1990s Afghanistan was swift and strategic.
• Originating from the southern regions, the movement consisted mostly of peasant farmers and Islamic scholars.
• They exploited the chaos and power vacuum following the collapse of the Soviet-backed government in 1992.
• By 1996, the Taliban had taken control of Kabul, establishing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
• They enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law upon seizing power.
• Their rapid ascension was aided by effective organization, local support, and the weakness of rival factions engaged in civil conflict.

Taliban fighters take control of the Afghan presidential palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 15, 2021

Women's Rights Under the Taliban: A Struggle for Freedom

Taliban Control in Afghanistan (1996 — 2001, 2021).

• Took Control in 1996: Imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law
• Impact on Women:
• Denied education (banned from school and studying)
• Prohibited from working
• Restricted from leaving the house without a male chaperone
• Required to cover skin in public
• Limited access to healthcare (delivered only by men; women barred from working)
• Excluded from political involvement and public speaking

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Impact on Civilian Population

• Displacement
• Statistics: Nearly 6 million internally displaced within Afghanistan since 2001.
• Causes:Ongoing conflict between Taliban forces and Afghan government troops, including frequent Taliban attacks.
• Impact: Displacement leads to reduced access to schools and medical services, exacerbated by Taliban restrictions, especially on women and girls.
• Civilian Casualties
• Statistics: Thousands killed and injured annually, as reported by UNAMA.
• Major Causes: Airstrikes, suicide bombings, IEDs, crossfire.
• Psychological Impact: Widespread trauma, persistent fear among civilians, disruption of normal life.
• Human Rights Violations
• Alleged Crimes:
• War Crimes: 399 cases
• Crimes Against Humanity: 103 cases
• Unknown: 120 cases
• Consequences: Erosion of trust in law and order, barriers to peace and reconciliation, long-term instability.

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The Impact of War in Afghanistan:

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Article- Do Muslim women (still) need saving?

Questions purely cultural explanations that ignore history & politics

• "Why was knowing about the culture of the region more urgent than exploring the history of repressive regimes and the U.S. role in this history?"
• Problematic to construct Muslim women as "creatures who need to be saved"
• Obscures "global interconnections" and "long histories of interactions" shaping their lives
• Example: Attributing new vulnerabilities like "distress sales" of daughters solely to Afghan "tradition" ignores impacts of war economy

Warns against cultural relativism but calls for understanding difference

• "Might other desires be as meaningful for people?" besides liberal individual freedoms
• Respect "different paths toward social change that might give women better lives"
• Not all women want Western secular model of emancipation/liberation
• Example: Some Afghan activists looked to Islamic feminism in Iran as inspiration

Criticizes moral superiority in the savior rhetoric

• "We should be wary of taking on mantles of Christian missionary women" who claimed to "save Muslim sisters"
• "A form of arrogance that deserves to be challenged"
• Echoes colonial-era "colonial feminism" that was about control, not women's rights

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Muslim Women: Dominant Narratives and Stereotypes

• Need for Western Intervention:
• Afghan women are seen as in need of Western intervention to liberate them from oppressive cultural practices and tradition
• Violence and Abuse:
• Stories of gender-based violence, including honor killings, forced marriages, and domestic abuse, further reinforce the image of Afghan women as victims of pervasive violence and oppression
• Veiling and Oppression:
• Western media often depicts Afghan women as wearing burqas as a symbol of oppression and powerlessness
• Lack of Agency:
• Afghan women are seen as lacking agency and autonomy and that their lives and decisions are controlled by male relatives and societal norms

Western Savior Complex and Muslim Women

• The Western savior complex is a central theme in discourse surrounding the rights and liberation of Muslim women�
• Abu-Lughod argues that the Western intervention and advocacy efforts stem from paternalistic attitudes that portray Westerners as morally superior and responsible for rescuing Muslim women from oppression�
• This idea leads to the oversimplification of complex social, cultural, and political issues in Afghanistan and the narrative of rescue overlooks the agency and resilience of Muslim women

“I do not think it would be as easy to mobilize so many of these American and European women if it were not a case of Muslim men oppressing Muslim women—women of cover, for whom they can feel sorry and in relation to whom they can feel smugly superior.” (p. 41)

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Warning: Graphic Content

Violence and Abuse: Bibi Aysha

• Had her nose cut off as punishment from her Taliban husband and in-laws

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• 2010 World Press Photo of the Year

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• “What Happens if We Leave Afghanistan”
• The title implies women are the first victims

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• Photo was defended both morally and politically
• People should know what is happening and confronting readers with the reality of the Taliban’s treatment of women

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• The controversy surrounding Bibi Aysha exemplifies the ongoing significance of Afghan women's rights within the broader political discourse of the War on Terror

Women and the War on Terror

• Following September 11th, 2001, military intervention has been justified in Afghanistan as efforts to “save” or “liberate” Afghan women from oppression under Taliban regime�
• Bibi Aysha became a symbol of this narrative �
• Sparked outrage and sympathy further fueling the Western justification for military intervention in Afghanistan �
• Afghan women have been a central component of the justification for military intervention, shaping public opinion and policy �
• This narrative is an over simplification of the complex realities of Afghan women’s lives

“Instead of questions that might lead to the examination of internal political struggles among groups in Afghanistan, or of global interconnections between Afghanistan and other nation-states, we were offered ones that worked to artificially divide the world into separate spheres-re-creating an imaginative geography of West versus East, us versus Muslims, cultures in which first ladies give speeches versus others in which women shuffle around silently in burqas. “ (p. 32)

“Women of Cover”

• Post 9/11 there was a sudden urgent desire to “understand our sister “women of cover”
• Phrase coined by President Bush�
• Rather than delving into the history of repressive regimes in the region and the role of the US in shaping that history, experts sought explanation for attack on New York through the religion and culture of Women and Islam �
• In doing so, they hinder efforts to address the root causes of suffering and conflict�
• Women from Muslim or Afghan backgrounds are frequently singled out to represent broader cultural issues, without considering the intricate web of relationships and influences that shape their experiences and the wider context of their lives.�
• This approach oversimplifies the complexities of their situations and neglects the various factors, both local and global, that contribute to their circumstances

Burqa and Agency

• Burqas are commonly seen as symbols of oppression imposed by the Taliban on women in Afghanistan �
• In Afghanistan the burqa symbolizes a women’s modesty and respectability�
• The burqa was seen as a liberating invention because it allowed women to move out of segregated living spaces while also observing moral requirements
• Separated and protected women from unrelated men �
• Most women in Afghanistan would still cover head even if it wasn’t required
• Veiling must not be confused with a lack of agency �
• “Vieling signifies belonging to a particular community and participating a moral way of life in which families are paramount in the organization of communities and the home is associated with the sanctity of women.” (p. 36)

“One cannot reduce the diverse situations and attitudes of millions of Muslim women to a single item of clothing.” (p. 40)

Women’s desires beyond secular liberal notions of freedom

- "Desire for freedom is a historically situated desire" (Mahmood)

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- Some women may prioritize family, religion, community over individual liberty

- Rural Egyptian woman: "They envy us our community & families" (p. 46)

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- Need to accept possibility of difference in women's desires

- Respect different paths toward social change that give women better lives

- Determined by different historical experiences and contexts

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- Problematic to construct Muslim/Afghan woman as someone in need of "saving"

- Implies transforming her to something presumed as superior

- Rhetoric of "saving" others reinforces sense of superiority and arrogance

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- Approach with spirit of support, alliance, and solidarity rather than "rescue"Women may have different desires beyond secular liberal notions of freedom

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Abu-Lughod’s Argument

Abu-Lughod argues we approach the issues of women, cultural relativism, and problems of difference from three angles:

1. We need to consider what feminist should do with strange political bedfellows�
2. Accept the possibility of difference �
3. Be vigilant about rhetoric of saving other because of what it betrays about their attitudes

Paulo Freire

The “Banking” Concept where education often functions like a bank, where teachers deposit information into students, who passively receive it without critical engagement.

Teacher Role: Acts as narrators, possessing all knowledge.

Student’s Role: Passive recipients and expectation to memorize than understand.

Implications:

• Limits the critical consciousness necessary for students.
• Encourages adaptation to the status quo, stifling innovation and individual potential.

Alternative Approach:

• Problem-posing education, which fosters dialogue, critical questioning, and mutual learning between both teachers and students.

Intersectionality

• Abu-Lughod emphasizes the importance of recognizing the diversity of Muslim women’s experience and identities
• They are not a monolithic group uniformly oppressed by islam or Muslim culture�
• Muslim women’s experiences are shaped by a range of factors including social, economic, and political contexts�
• Feminism that center around and prioritizes white, middle-class, Western women is not feminism
• It needs to take on a more intersectional approach that includes diverse backgrounds including Muslim women

Solidarity & Empowerment

• Lila Abu-Lughod calls for solidarity and empowerment as alternatives to interventionist approaches in addressing the rights and experiences of Muslim women�
• Words such as “save” and “rescue” perpetuate harmful power dynamics and fail to address the root causes of oppression and inequality �
• Solidarity should be based on mutual respect, understanding, and collaboration�
• A call for empowerment initiatives that prioritize self-determination and autonomy
• Centering the voices of Muslim women on themselves

“We need to be away of differences, respectful of other paths toward social change that might give women better lives, and recognize that such options are set by different historical experiences.” (p. 45)

Sources

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/womens-rights-afghanistan-history#:~:text=1996%20%E2%80%94%202001,were%20banned%20from%20attending%20school.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/4421624-un-report-afghanistan-taliban-women/

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-taliban-9ff0ffd05b66f3e48c5871c04386c529

https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-asia/afghanistan/329-taliban-restrictions-womens-rights-deepen-afghanistans-crisis

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/16/middleeast/taliban-control-afghanistan-explained-intl-hnk/index.html

https://apnews.com/article/taliban-takeover-afghanistan-what-to-know-1a74c9cd866866f196c478aba21b60b6

https://nypost.com/2021/08/15/taliban-assumes-control-of-afghanistan-reports/

https://afghanistanmemoryhome.org/

https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fdynaimage.cdn.cnn.com%2Fcnn%2Fc_fill%2Cg_auto%2Cw_1200%2Ch_675%2Car_16%3A9%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fcdn.cnn.com%252Fcnnnext%252Fdam%252Fassets%252F211228170239-taliban-bans-afghan-women.jpg&tbnid=5dPkk49txDZLGM&vet=12ahUKEwjPk_j2uueFAxVrODQIHVjfClgQMygKegQIARBG..i&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F05%2F07%2Fasia%2Fafghanistan-taliban-decree-women-intl%2Findex.html&docid=fnHOqASkR8_ysM&w=1200&h=675&q=women%20in%20afghanistan&ved=2ahUKEwjPk_j2uueFAxVrODQIHVjfClgQMygKegQIARBG

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https://asiasociety.org/magazine/article/afghan-women-have-something-tell-you

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https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.npr.org%2Fsections%2Fthetwo-way%2F2010%2F10%2F13%2F130527903%2Fbibi-aisha-disfigured-afghan-woman-featured-on-time-cover-visits-u-s&psig=AOvVaw1RHKdWsMW0LyfHPXOkl5-L&ust=1714594362254000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBEQjRxqFwoTCPiE2vDf6oUDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

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https://www.arabnews.com/node/2473356/world

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https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fprogressive.international%2Fstatic%2F89984894cd9f7c5bea0122de03fcab97%2Fspa.jpg&tbnid=3ElJFLqiwQfv-M&vet=12ahUKEwjwx7qU4OqFAxXBATQIHbnCBEYQMygBegQIARBF..i&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fprogressive.international%2Fmembers%2F0acb6796-3b70-41bf-a1c7-b678616870aa-solidarity-party-of-afghanistan%2Fen%2F&docid=b31ijDBYeXNF2M&w=2133&h=1600&q=solidarity%20party%20of%20afghanistan&ved=2ahUKEwjwx7qU4OqFAxXBATQIHbnCBEYQMygBegQIARBF

https://www.vox.com/22630912/women-afghanistan-taliban-united-states-war

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