It was the time of the nineties when the sounds of heavy boots and firearms began to echo through the streets of Afghanistan. Janana’s screams announced the arrival of the Taliban even earlier. Some girls who were wandering around the market wearing perfume were being severely whipped. Within minutes, the fragrance was replaced by blood and the brightness was replaced by silence. Immediately after this, a list of prohibitions and restrictions came out, which was expanding with each passing day. Fast forward to 2024…! Once again there are Taliban in Kabul and Kandahar. Crueler than before. More cruel. Harder.
The problem is not just for women, men also walk on a thin rope, one foot slips and they are about to fall into the deep abyss below. aajtak.in spoke to one such person from Kabul, Salim (not his real name), on the phone.
The father of two twin daughters says: where and who should we ask for help? To the world we are churan-chutney. It is on the plate only if the flavor needs to be changed; otherwise it is missing.
This is also true to some extent. When the Taliban took command of Afghanistan in August 2021, the world had just emerged from Covid. An attempt was being made to bridge the long distance at one point. Meanwhile, the raising of the Taliban flag in Kabul was as much news as the tears of the wife who was beaten every day in the neighborhood. The countries collectively cried with sighs. The UN did old things. From time to time juicy parts of the restrictions imposed on women appeared in the media. After that, that’s it!
Afghanistan is alone now. In your condition. It does not have any spice that can give a new flavor to the tongue.
Living under strict restrictions, Afghans seek refuge here and there. Pakistan returned thousands of Afghans last year. Western countries closed their doors calling him a terrorist. Now they have no choice but to remain trapped in the power of the Taliban and follow their rules.
Similarly, we spoke on the phone with Father Salim, who is stranded. During the call that lasted about 40 minutes, he told many things heard and not heard.
It must have been the afternoon of August 15, when the noise increased in Kabul. There were only people in the streets carrying suitcases and bags. The taxis were full. It seemed as if the whole country had come to our city. Everyone was running towards the airport. “Leave as soon as you can, otherwise you will stay inside.” One of my friends said as he said goodbye. He applied in any country from which he obtained approval. Some went to Iran, others to Pakistan. Some from Canada and others from Europe.
Those who did not leave the country ran to the banks. I was also one of them. But before my turn could come, an order came prohibiting beneficiaries from withdrawing large amounts of money. I returned home. Everything had changed in a day and a half.
Salim Manji, who works in the social sector, says in fluent English: The Taliban were like a husband who had to instill fear in his wife immediately after marriage, even if the wife was already scared.
As soon as he arrived, he detained many people, making true and false accusations. Many people died at the crossing. My house is on a moving street. While punishing he wanted the crowd to see him. So that the rebels may learn a lesson and the weak of heart may be strengthened. When I returned home after seeing the bombing at the intersection, I could hear the smell of the screams of the dead in my ears. But I had gotten stronger. After this he saw many murders but he did not feel afraid.
What else changed?
‘All.’ This time the sound from a thousand kilometers away seems to come from another world. ‘Laughter and good gossip disappeared from the markets. The women disappeared. In several places there are checkpoints where there are Taliban soldiers with rifles. Their job is to keep an eye on people. If women or even older girls are seen without veils, punish them. If you see someone laughing, let them know. It is forbidden to hum because it will arouse desire in men.
The heads of the decorated mannequins in the stores were cut off because it is against religion.
But it was in the news that only the effigies of women were removed!
They did not remove them, they simply covered them with a dress such that the shape of the body was not visible. Even bare-faced, scantily clad mannequins can make a difference in faith. The male mannequins were decapitated. At the store where I go to shave, the tops of the signs were covered in ink paint. The face and the new hairstyle should not be visible. The beard can also be groomed in a certain way. No new fashion.
During the Republic (elected government before the Taliban), there were crowds in parks and markets on Fridays. People used to eat honey-filled jalebis and ashak with their families. They would laugh and joke with each other. All this stopped. There will be noise when eating crunchy jabelis, which may distract the attention of people around you.
Women cannot eat street food because then their hands or mouth will be left without purdah. There are some restaurants where they can go to eat but only when the guardian (sometimes they call him Mahram, that is, the man who is the woman’s family) is with her.
There are many large and small gardens in the city, but women are not allowed to enter there. First they and we split up on alternate days. She went from Monday to Wednesday and the rest of us went every day. Then they were completely banned. The Taliban say that the interaction between naked nature and women is not good.
Salim tells many more things related to the Moral Police.
In fact, in this country there is a ministry: Virtue and Wisdom. Its only function is to control women. They constantly give new orders about what women can and cannot do. For example, if a man and a woman of the same age are seen wandering together, their relationship will first be asked and, if they are not satisfied, their ID will also be asked. If this does not work, the family will be called. If the relationship is not that of husband-wife, father-daughter or brother-sister, then punishment is certain.
The women in my house didn’t go for a walk even three times in three years. She goes to the hospital or sometimes to see relatives. The daughters go to school but after a year they will also stay at home.
Because? What is the age of your daughters?
Of eleven. They are twins.
They are so small. So why are you staying home?
As soon as I got home two days ago, my daughter said, Dad, we’re graduating this year. Our trainer says that starting next year you don’t need to come to school. She was squeaking as she counted. He doesn’t even know its meaning. He does not know that after this his path to the outside world will be closed. My wife is a graduate but she is not allowed to work.
Under the Taliban regime there are only a few professions in which women can work. She could be a teacher. Or a little more work. Yes, they can work from home as much as they want, but only if women are their clients. Like a beauty salon. All salons have been closed in Kabul. But the work is done from home. Women do all this together with each other.
And doctor? There are women in this profession!
Yes, it’s there right now. The same doctors and nurses who were there during the Republic are still there. They also have to work with many restrictions. Who knows what will happen if this lot retires or dies. I am in the social sector. I know of areas where, due to lack of expert doctors, patients suffer from even minor illnesses.
According to religion, non-men cannot even see women, much less touch them. If there is no education, how will there be treatment? Girls can study until they are 12 years old or until the sixth grade. After a while they get married.
Relationships are also suggested for my daughters. One suffered from a cleft palate. I had surgery but I ate and drank just like a bird. A thin girl runs around the house. I can’t even imagine what will happen to her after marriage! The neat Englishman trembled for the first time.
Why don’t you leave the country like the others?
If you could have gone, you would have done it a long time ago. I had tried. Now no one gives a visa. Before the Taliban, he had also once come to India on a medical tour. Now the doors are also closed. We can go to Iran but to them we are nothing more than cheap labor. Even our children cannot carry formal education with them.
We are getting used to it. I have adapted a lot in three years. But this is a habit that has no end. The Taliban will reduce us from bones to water.
It was a few days ago. While returning from the office, I started listening to music on my mobile. Inside the car, my head might have been shaking to the beat. The agent at the checkpoint became suspicious. There he hit me with the butt of the gun. When I returned home, I walked straight. I couldn’t tell the daughters that their father was beaten for listening to the song. Kabul’s theaters have been closed for a long time. But now you can’t listen to songs even in a closed car.
As he hangs up the phone, this father of twin daughters promises me that he will talk to a single woman and adds that he will ask his brother and talk to him.
Because?
Because it is forbidden to do anything without a pattern (Mahram). The conversation ends with a scathing response. Chats are deleted that same night. This is an indication that the woman did not obtain permission.
(Read the story of a Taliban commander in the next installment. This person, who was a teacher during the Republic, is now the head of the intelligence department, whose job is to monitor the land and the boiling minds. He also tells about the dangers of his profession.)
