Womyn's Concerns organized a Community Meeting to discuss the Taliban on March 8, 1999, International Women's Day, in addition to information and letter writing tables in the University Center with the campus chapter of Amnesty International.
RAWA demonstration at Peshawar in Kabul, Afganistan on April 28, 1998.
The Taliban is a fundamentalist, military force that is dominating Afganistan and terrorizing many people of Afganistan, particularly women. The Taliban subscribes to a particular fundamentalist Islamic view that places women in the utmost of subordinate positions. The U.N. has been called upon to get involved, but is hesitant due to Taliban hostility. Pakistan also factors into the situation as it borders Afganistan and could potentially be influential in returning a relative state of stability to the country. Pakistan, however, has not taken any declarative stance on the desperate state of affairs in Afganistan. The rest of the world has been slow to respond, but more attention is currently being paid. Campaigns such as "A Flower for the Women of Kabul" (Kabul is the capital city of Afganistan) and all of the work done by The Feminist Majority Foundation have been instrumental in alerting the world to the suffering of so many people in Afganistan.
A few key sites to visit:
RAWA is a political/welfare organization of Afghan women which is struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan. RAWA describes itself as a radical, militant feminist organization and, in Afganistan (as well as many other parts of the world) is dangerous. These women, men, and children working together in anti-fundamentalist coalitions, are risking (and often losing) their lives in the struggle for liberation. RAWA's site has an incredible amount of incredible information and photographs (a few of which are included here).
The Feminist Majority's "Stop Gender Apartheid in Afganistan!" site which contains a lot of information and action-oriented strategies, particularly in relation to the U.N.
Resources on Women and the Taliban on the Drew Women's Studies Program site with links to many other relevant sites including Amnesty International and the U.N. High Commission on Human Rights.
RAWA's demonstration on Human Rights Day
(December 10, 1996) in Islamabad, Pakistan.
excerpt from"Police Restrain Taliban attacking RAWA Procession" by Behroz Khan, in The News on April 29, 1998.The RAWA procession comprising some 250 women and girl students of the local Afghan schools was attacked near Tambwano Chowk on Jamrud Road by a group of over a dozen stick-wielding Taliban. At least 10 women received injuries, three of whom were rushed to hospital for first aid.
The women showed extreme courage by raising highly charged slogans against the "fundamentalists" and retaliated with sticks and stones in self-defence rather than running for shelter. They were joined by some of the men, both Afghans and Pakistanis, accompanying the procession. "We wanted to convey to the 'fundamentalists' that women can fight for their rights," remarked an emotional RAWA leader Nasima Bareen. The attackers were overpowered by police in no time.
Mindful of the wrath of the Taliban and other Afghan groups, the RAWA organizers had arranged bundles of sticks in advance for observing the "6th black anniversary" of what the organization termed "swarming of fundamentalist criminals into Kabul on April 28,1992."
Despite tension and fears of recurrence of the happening, the processionists did not disperse and reached their destination chanting slogans and playing patriotic songs through a loudspeaker. "Nothing can be achieved in today's Afghanistan without sacrifice," commented another RAWA leader, Jamila Habib.
Secretary of State Madeline Albright
Department of State
Washington, DC 20520
President Clinton
The White House
Washington, DC 20502
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
