Scores of Afghan women have come out to protest for rights after the Taliban took over the country, leading to the collapse of the Ashram Ghani government.
One such woman, Crystal Bayat, an activist in Afghanistan, spoke to India Today and said that they want to show the Taliban that the people of Afghanistan have changed and so should they, forgetting the "extremist thoughts and beliefs".
"We wanted to show the people of Taliban that Afghanistan and its people have changed. You all have to change and you have to forget your extremist thoughts and beliefs. We are unavailable from our rights and freedoms. How long we should be afraid from Taliban? We have to face this group," she said.
ALSO READ | The curse of being a woman in Afghanistan
Crystal Bayat said that the Talibans have not changed and are same as the "narrow-mind" Talibans of the 1990s.
Crystal Bayat led the group that had marched to Wazir Akbar Khan hilltop to hoist the national flag on Afghanistan's Independence Day on August 19. She said even though she knew she was very much at the risk of being shot by the Taliban men, she still faced them at a checkpoint during the march.
Images of Crystal Bayat leading the protest march and confronting the Taliban had gone viral.
"Unfortunately, they behaved in such a way. They told me that you're a woman, you are a lady, you have to stay at home. So I told them that we have the right to come out and take part in all spheres of the society. They said you're in the wrong way. So, I didn't accept them and continued and we came on the streets with flags of Zindabad Afghanistan".
"Unfortunately, when we were on the way, they shot at us", she said, adding that some people even received injuries.
If you're not speaking in their favor, they will just shoot on you, Crystal Bayat said.
Do Afghan women believe Taliban's assurance on women's rights?
When asked if the women in Afghanistan are able to trust and believe Taliban's assurance on women's rights, she said: "We are not the women of 1997. We are more empowered and we want to take part in society. Whether it is political, whether it is economical, whether it is art or commercial affairs.
The international community and other women who are out of Afghanistan must raise their voice for the rights of Afghan women who are suffering from the Taliban, Bayat said.
ALSO READ | They said you are a woman, go home: Afghan journalist talks about life after Taliban takeover
Crystal Bayat said the women of Afghanistan have millions of dreams, have sacrificed a lot over the last two decades, and have fought to achieve some gains which they do not want to lose at any cost.
She added that not just women, even men are suffering from the Taliban.
What is the mood on ground?
On the disheartening scenes of people clinging to aircraft, crowding airport in a desperate bid to escape the Taliban, Bayat said that there is not just war, there is also an economic crisis in Afghanistan and people need to move out of the country for survival.
"People are not going to camp out of the Kabul airport. All they can do is just sacrifice. They are giving their lives. The international community must help them".
ALSO READ | Taliban haven't changed; may have to kill myself | How women see Afghanistan now
"As an Afghan woman, I would like to request the entire world that please, do not let the Afghans suffer anymore. Please continue your humanitarian aid. People are suffering," she said.
She also made an appeal, saying that the superpower countries should decide which government will rule Afghanistan.
"Because we don't have any government in Afghanistan right now. And everyone is free in Afghanistan. They shoot on the people, they kill the people, we don't know which party they are. They take the money, they take your car an there is no government we can complain to," Bayat said.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMilgFodHRwczovL3d3dy5pbmRpYXRvZGF5LmluL3dvcmxkL3N0b3J5L2FmZ2hhbmlzdGFuLWl0cy1wZW9wbGUtaGF2ZS1jaGFuZ2VkLXNvLXNob3VsZC10YWxpYmFuLWFmZ2hhbi1hY3RpdmlzdC1jcnlzdGFsLWJheWF0LWludGVydmlldy0xODQzNDU3LTIwMjEtMDgtMjDSAZoBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kaWF0b2RheS5pbi9hbXAvd29ybGQvc3RvcnkvYWZnaGFuaXN0YW4taXRzLXBlb3BsZS1oYXZlLWNoYW5nZWQtc28tc2hvdWxkLXRhbGliYW4tYWZnaGFuLWFjdGl2aXN0LWNyeXN0YWwtYmF5YXQtaW50ZXJ2aWV3LTE4NDM0NTctMjAyMS0wOC0yMA?oc=5
2021-08-20 16:24:46Z
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar