story highlights
An Amnesty International report calls for an investigation into the attacks on women’s rights activists in Afghanistan
The report examines the harassment of activists not only by Taliban and tribal chieftains, but also by government officials.
Some workers risk their lives to continue their work
CNN
–
A report by Amnesty International called on officials to pay attention to the number of attacks on women’s rights activists in Afghanistan.
report, titletheir life on the lineIt investigates the persecution of activists and other champions of women’s rights, not only by the Taliban and tribal warlords, but also by government officials.
It is published on time. Ruthless Girl Farkhunda murdered in Afghanistan Whose body was burnt and thrown into a river in Kabul, which shook the world.
Many protested the 27-year-old’s innocence, accusing him of burning the pages of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.
But what also made international headlines was that, for the first time in history, women in Afghanistan became blindfolded, under the gaze of men, hoisting the victim’s coffin over their shoulders, with headscarves wrapped around their heads; Unconditionally shouting and shouting messages of solidarity of women as they marched in the streets.
In 2011 a. by country ranked Thomson Reuters Foundation Poll As the most dangerous place in the world for women, this feminist act seemed dangerous. The latest figures suggest that they were risking their lives.
in 2013, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Amnesty said in the report that the figures released show that the number of women killed in the country has increased by 20% from the previous year, although the number of civilian victims has decreased.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan at that time, Jan Kubis told the UN Security Council That “Most (women killed) are linked to domestic violence, tradition, culture of the country.
“Women activists have been deliberately targeted.”
And according to the human rights group, there has been little support from those in power.
“The Afghan government has done little to protect them,” Amnesty’s Afghanistan researcher, Horia Mossadiq, tells CNN. “Criminals almost always walk free, and threats made by women’s rights defenders are often ignored.
“Several female defenders we spoke to said that while they did get some protection from officers, it was often significantly less than their male counterparts or co-workers.”
“During the attack on Farkhunda,” says Mossadiq, “several eyewitnesses testified that the police officers stood silent while this woman was being murdered.” Twenty-six people were arrested and thirteen police officers were suspended. regarding the attack, but he argues that it is insufficient.
“Suspending police officers is not enough, those who have failed in their duty must also be held accountable – anything less than that will lead to mob violence.”
But what is striking is the resilience of the workers, who continue their work despite putting their lives on the line.
“It was a remarkable moment,” Mossadiq says, remembering the women protesters at Farkhunda’s funeral. “Unlike anything I’ve seen in my country’s decades-long campaign for women’s rights.”
Sele Ghafar, 32, is a women’s rights activist and spokesperson for the Solidarity Party of Afghanistan – a small but vocal political party based in Kabul and twenty provinces that fights for issues such as democracy, social justice and women’s rights.
The party was first banned in the country To accuse Afghan leaders and commanders of war crimes and demand that they be brought to justice.
Participating in the protests against Farkhunda’s funeral and her death, she tells CNN that despite years of violence against Afghan women, this was the worst-case scenario.
But the opportunity was taken to deliver a clear message.
“So the women of Afghanistan showed that we will not remain silent anymore … and we are not ready to accept more brutality and violence against women,” Ghaffar said.
So we decided to carry Farkhunda’s body on our shoulders and show the world that not only men can do this and somehow broke the traditionalism that (a) man has to do this work.
Amazingly, she says the male audience supported her mission, although they are an overall minority in the country. “Men (at the funeral), they said you have to do this, because that’s how you can change hate in Afghanistan.
“Without men, it is not possible for women to get their rights,” she says. “So these men and women were working together. But at the same time women need to come forward for their rights.
Mossadiq says that the fight for women’s rights was established some time ago.
“Women’s activism is nothing new in Afghanistan – the women’s rights movement has grown significantly since 2001, and has fought for and achieved some very significant gains.
“However, these gains are now under threat, and some have been withdrawn. It is imperative that the government and its international allies do not allow this to happen.”
Ghaffar herself has been subject to threats because of her work at her home and office, received through emails and phone calls. But she says she knew what she was doing herself.
“I knew it was not an easy task. There can be many challenges and you will have to lose your life while you are leaving and fighting for your rights.
“As a woman, I want to fight (for my rights) more, I want more people around me to fight with me.”
Mossadiq says it is too early to talk about a revolution, although the reaction of both men and women to the killing of Farkhunda has been a “silver lining”.
Ghaffar, however, believes this is the beginning of a rebellion – but says it needs to keep going.
Interestingly, it was a man in her life who inspired her to fight. “I have to say firmly that it was my father (who inspired me) who is no longer with me, as he … passed away three months ago,” she says.
“He always told me that women always suffer in this country,” she says, her voice overcome with emotion. “And you have to fight for your rights. Because in this traditional, patriarchal society no one will give you these rights.”
She realizes how lucky she is, she says, in a society where she has seen men – fathers and husbands – oppress women as opposed to their role models.
Ghaffar says that silence is an injustice to women, at least not to the victim of the recent horrific mob violence. “So if I shouldn’t, if the other sister isn’t doing it, who will? Who will take our rights? We have to fight for it.
“If we keep quiet, there will be more furkhundas killed in this country.”
.