Young Women Who Grew Up Without the Taliban Fear Their Return
2021-05-04
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1Sultana Karimi works in Ms. Sadat's Beauty Store in Afghanistan's capital.
2She found bravery and her love for beauty in the store.
3She and the other young women working or training in the store never experienced the rule of the Taliban over Afghanistan.
4But they all worry that their dreams will come to an end if the extreme militants regain any power, even if it happens as part of a new government.
5Karimi said if the Taliban returns, life will change and be ruined.
6She continued, "Women will be sent into hiding, they'll be forced to wear the burqa to go out of their homes."
7She wore a bright, yellow shirt that was unusual even for the all-women store.
8She would not have been able to wear the shirt under the Taliban.
9The Taliban ruled in Afghanistan until the 2001 US-led invasion.
10The Taliban banned beauty stores in general.
11Their extreme ideas often affected women and girls the most.
12They banned women from education, work, and even traveling outside their homes without a male family member.
13US troops are set to leave Afghanistan completely by September 11.
14Many Afghan women worry about their futures after U.S. troops leave.
15Mahbouba Seraj is a women's rights activist in Afghanistan.
16She is the executive director of Afghan Women's Skill Development.
17She said women are closely watching the peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government over the post-withdrawal future.
18Right now, those negotiations are frozen.
19The US is pushing for a power-sharing government that includes the Taliban.
20Seraj said women want written guarantees from the Taliban that they will not undo the gains made by women in the past 20 years.
21They also want the international community to hold the Taliban to its promises.
22Seraj said, "I am not frustrated that the Americans are leaving ... the time was coming that the Americans would go home."
23She and other women, however, want the US and NATO to demand a guarantee of women's rights from the Taliban.
24Two weeks ago, the Taliban announced the type of government they would build.
25The announcement promised that women can serve the country in education, business, health and social fields while wearing "correct" Islamic hijab.
26It promised girls would have the right to choose their own husbands.
27 This is considered unacceptable in many traditional and tribal homes in Afghanistan where husbands are chosen by parents.
28The announcement did not have many details.
29It did not guarantee that women could join politics or have the freedom to move without a male family member.
30Many worry that the unclear terms the Taliban use in their promises, like "correct hijab," will permit them to enforce crushing judgements.
31Ms. Sadat owns the beauty store. She was born in Iran to refugee parents.
32She said she was not allowed to own a business in Iran.
33So, she returned to a homeland she had never seen to open her store.
34She asked to not be identified by her full name.
35She fears the attention could make her a target.
36She has been more careful as violence and bombings have increased in Kabul the past year.
37Many believe this points to a difficult future for Afghanistan after the Americans and NATO leave.
38The women who are working or training in the store fear the Taliban.
39One worker said that just the name of the Taliban makes them afraid.
40They are left to decide how much fear or compromise of their rights they can accept.
41Tamila Pazhman said she does not want "the old Afghanistan back." But she does want peace.
42"If we know we will have peace, we will wear the hijab while we work and study," she said. "But there must be peace."
43They all grew up during the fairly democratic last 20 years.
44Important gains were made by women since the Taliban was forced out.
45Girls are now in school, and women are now in Parliament, government and business.
46They also know how quickly those rights can be removed in a deeply conservative country controlled by men.
47Karimi said that women in Afghanistan who speak out have been oppressed and ignored.
48The majority of Afghan women will be quiet.
49She continued, "They know they will never receive any support."
50Afghanistan remains one of the worst countries in the world for women.
51It is third, after Yemen and Syria, reports Georgetown University's Institute for Women, Peace and Security.
52Life has changed little in centuries in most rural areas.
53Women wake when the sun rises and do much of the heavy labor in the home and in the fields.
54They wear the traditional clothes that cover their whole body.
55According to UN estimates, one in three girls is married before age 18.
56They are most often forced marriages.
57I'm Jill Robbins.
1Sultana Karimi works in Ms. Sadat's Beauty Store in Afghanistan's capital. She found bravery and her love for beauty in the store. 2She and the other young women working or training in the store never experienced the rule of the Taliban over Afghanistan. 3But they all worry that their dreams will come to an end if the extreme militants regain any power, even if it happens as part of a new government. 4Karimi said if the Taliban returns, life will change and be ruined. She continued, "Women will be sent into hiding, they'll be forced to wear the burqa to go out of their homes." 5She wore a bright, yellow shirt that was unusual even for the all-women store. She would not have been able to wear the shirt under the Taliban. 6The Taliban ruled in Afghanistan until the 2001 US-led invasion. 7The Taliban banned beauty stores in general. Their extreme ideas often affected women and girls the most. They banned women from education, work, and even traveling outside their homes without a male family member. 8US troops are set to leave Afghanistan completely by September 11. Many Afghan women worry about their futures after U.S. troops leave. 9Mahbouba Seraj is a women's rights activist in Afghanistan. She is the executive director of Afghan Women's Skill Development. She said women are closely watching the peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government over the post-withdrawal future. Right now, those negotiations are frozen. 10The US is pushing for a power-sharing government that includes the Taliban. Seraj said women want written guarantees from the Taliban that they will not undo the gains made by women in the past 20 years. They also want the international community to hold the Taliban to its promises. 11Seraj said, "I am not frustrated that the Americans are leaving ... the time was coming that the Americans would go home." 12She and other women, however, want the US and NATO to demand a guarantee of women's rights from the Taliban. 13Two weeks ago, the Taliban announced the type of government they would build. 14The announcement promised that women can serve the country in education, business, health and social fields while wearing "correct" Islamic hijab. It promised girls would have the right to choose their own husbands. This is considered unacceptable in many traditional and tribal homes in Afghanistan where husbands are chosen by parents. 15The announcement did not have many details. It did not guarantee that women could join politics or have the freedom to move without a male family member. 16Many worry that the unclear terms the Taliban use in their promises, like "correct hijab," will permit them to enforce crushing judgements. 17Ms. Sadat owns the beauty store. She was born in Iran to refugee parents. She said she was not allowed to own a business in Iran. So, she returned to a homeland she had never seen to open her store. 18She asked to not be identified by her full name. She fears the attention could make her a target. She has been more careful as violence and bombings have increased in Kabul the past year. Many believe this points to a difficult future for Afghanistan after the Americans and NATO leave. 19The women who are working or training in the store fear the Taliban. One worker said that just the name of the Taliban makes them afraid. 20They are left to decide how much fear or compromise of their rights they can accept. Tamila Pazhman said she does not want "the old Afghanistan back." But she does want peace. 21"If we know we will have peace, we will wear the hijab while we work and study," she said. "But there must be peace." 22They all grew up during the fairly democratic last 20 years. Important gains were made by women since the Taliban was forced out. Girls are now in school, and women are now in Parliament, government and business. 23They also know how quickly those rights can be removed in a deeply conservative country controlled by men. 24Karimi said that women in Afghanistan who speak out have been oppressed and ignored. The majority of Afghan women will be quiet. She continued, "They know they will never receive any support." 25Afghanistan remains one of the worst countries in the world for women. It is third, after Yemen and Syria, reports Georgetown University's Institute for Women, Peace and Security. 26Life has changed little in centuries in most rural areas. Women wake when the sun rises and do much of the heavy labor in the home and in the fields. They wear the traditional clothes that cover their whole body. According to UN estimates, one in three girls is married before age 18. They are most often forced marriages. 27I'm Jill Robbins. 28Kathy Gannon and Tameem Akhgar reported this story for the Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 29_________________________________________________ 30Words in This Story 31burqa - n. a long piece of clothing that covers the face and body and that is worn by some Muslim women in public places 32frustrated - adj. very angry, discouraged, or upset because of being unable to do or complete something 33hijab - n. a head covering worn in public by some Muslim women