Friday, November 26, 2021

The 'new normal' for Afghan women and LGBT people


After Taliban's victory, 'dark days' against Afghan women and LGBT people come back. Afghan women are going to routinely discriminated, and the future of LGBT people is going to be indiscriminate torture and death penalty again.

Habib Khan, an award winning journalist, asked Afghans a simple question. The answers they have given are moving and show the devastation that the Taliban-Haqqani occupation force has placed on the Afghan people.

His question was: What was your profession when Afghanistan was free? And what do you do now? 

Hundreds of Afghans have replied to Habib with their current status. Former journalists, students, government officials, civil society leaders, soldiers, IT experts, teachers, civil engineers, lawyers, social workers, shop owners... the list goes on and on.

All the answers show the same reality:

  • “I was an attorney but now I am jobless.” -Nima 
  • “I was a chairwoman of Afghanistan Election Commision and now I am at home!” -Hawa
  • “I was in my 2nd year of dental residency , now I’m a refugee” -Marjan

Taliban are rolling back freedoms at a rapid pace, especially for women and LGBT people. When Taliban last ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, women were discriminated against in many ways, for the 'crime' of being born a girl. And LGBT people faced tortures and death penalty for the 'crime' of being homosexuals.

For that reason, they are choosing to leave for their own safety or economic hardships.

#FreeAfghanistan




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