We're Still Here: Afghanistan is suffering.
On August 15, 2021, the Taliban, an extremist Muslim organization, took over the country’s last-standing city: its capital, Kabul. Since 2012, Taliban operations have caused the loss of thousands of lives, displacing an estimated five million residents.
This year, thousands of citizens are fleeing the country, still fearful of what’s to come. Heightened conflict between them and the Taliban may lead to a violent civil war, with the lives of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
During these griping times, Afghan women took to the streets on Saturday, September 4, 2021, calling for women’s rights to work and representation following Senior Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai’s statement, which implied that the government was no place for a woman to be in. Even as they protested peacefully, they were met with pepper sprays and tear gases rather than a government that listens.
It has only been over 2 months since the takeover happened, yet the voice of Afghanistan has slowly started to fade in the public’s mind. Meanwhile, media in Afghanistan has become more and more restricted, with many of its people repressed. Even on the international stage, Afghanistan was nowhere to be seen during the 76th United Nations general assembly, a talk that would have served as a medium that voiced their reality.
During a time like this where trends pass within seconds and issues pile at every waking moment, where can the Afghan people go? Who will hear their truth?
References:
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[2] Kiely, E., & Farley, R. “Timeline of U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan." Annenberg Public Policy Center, 17 August 2021. https://www.factcheck.org/2021/08/timeline-of-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/ (Accessed 4 September 2021)
[3] "Taliban are back - what next for Afghanistan?" BBC News, 1 September 2021. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-49192495 (Accessed 4 September 2021)
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[7] Hashemi, S., Faiez, R., Baldoor, L, and Krauss, J. “Kabul airport attack kills 60 Afghans, 13 US troops.” The Associated Press, 27 August 2021. https://apnews.com/article/europe-france-evacuations-kabul-9e457201e5bbe75a4eb1901fedeee7a1 (Accessed 29 August 2021)
[8] Parker, C. "What is ISIS-K? Here’s what the Taliban takeover means for al-Qaeda and the Islamic State’s Afghanistan affiliate." The Washington Post, 26 August 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/23/taliban-isis-alqaeda-faq/?itid=lkinlinemanual_5 (Accessed 5 September 2021)
[9] Lafiti, A. "Women march in Kabul to demand role in Taliban government." Al Jazeera, 4 September 2021. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/4/women-march-in-kabul-to-demand-role-in-taliban-government (Accessed 5 September 2021)
[10] Rasheed, Z., Ibrahim, A., and Siddiqui, U. "Taliban offers amnesty, promises women’s rights and media freedom." Al Jazeera, 17 August 2021. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/17/evacuation-flights-resume-as-biden-defends-afghanistan-pullout