In just a few years since the Taliban reclaimed control of Afghanistan, women’s rights have been severely eroded. Among the starkest examples of this regression is a ban on women singing.
For Malala Yousafzai, the struggle of Afghan women resonates deeply.
The Nobel laureate has her own harrowing history with the Taliban, having survived a gunshot wound as a 15-year-old in Pakistan while advocating for girls’ education.
Now 27, Malala is using her platform to spotlight the plight of Afghan women under Taliban rule.
“I never imagined that the rights of women would be compromised so easily,” she told BBC Asian Network. “The future looks very dark to them.”
The Taliban regained power in 2021, two decades after their initial regime was ousted by a U.S.-led invasion.
Since the withdrawal of Western forces, their strict “morality laws” have stripped Afghan women of fundamental freedoms.
Women are now required to fully cover themselves, cannot travel without a male chaperone, and are forbidden from making eye contact with unrelated men.
“The restrictions are so extreme that it does not even make sense to anybody,” Malala said.
The United Nations has described these laws as “gender apartheid,” calling for their recognition as crimes under international law.
Meanwhile, the Taliban insists that their rules align with Afghan culture and Islamic traditions.
Education as the First Casualty
Malala emphasizes the Taliban’s deliberate dismantling of women’s education.
“They know that to take away women’s rights, you have to start with education,” she explained.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, over a million girls—around 80% of school-aged females—are out of school.
In 2022, approximately 100,000 female university students were banned from continuing their studies.
This lack of access to education has had devastating ripple effects, including a rise in child marriages and maternal deaths during pregnancy and childbirth.
“Afghan women live in very dark times now,” Malala said, “but they show resistance.”
Malala is the executive producer of Bread & Roses, an upcoming documentary that highlights the resilience of Afghan women.
Directed by Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani and co-produced by U.S. actress Jennifer Lawrence, the film follows the lives of three women: Zahra, a dentist forced to abandon her practice; Taranom, an activist fleeing to the border; and Sharifa, a government employee who lost both her job and independence.
For Malala, the documentary represents more than the stories of its three protagonists.
“It’s about the 20 million Afghan girls and women whose stories may not make it to our screens,” she said.
Sahra Mani, who fled Afghanistan after the U.S.-backed government collapsed in 2021, hopes the film will shed light on the Taliban’s systematic dismantling of women’s freedoms.
“How slowly, all the rights have been taken away,” she said.
Mani relied on footage from women still living under Taliban rule, who risked their safety to document protests and daily life.
Even under immense oppression, Afghan women continue to resist.
The documentary captures moments of protest, including women being arrested while demanding their rights.
“Defiance is extremely challenging,” Malala noted. “Despite all of these challenges, they’re out on the streets, risking their lives to hope for a better world for themselves.”
All three women featured in the film have since left Afghanistan, but Malala and Mani hope Bread & Roses will inspire global solidarity with those who remain.
“They are doing all they can to fight for their rights, to raise their voices,” Malala said. “It’s our time to be their sisters and supporters.”
Malala believes the international community must hold the Taliban accountable for their actions.
“We really have to question what systems are in place to guarantee protection to women in Afghanistan, but also elsewhere,” she said.
Despite its stories of loss and oppression, Bread & Roses is also a testament to resilience and hope.
The title itself draws from an Afghan saying: “Bread is a symbol of freedom, earning a salary, and supporting the family,” explained Mani.
Malala hopes the film will amplify the bravery of Afghan women and inspire others to stand in solidarity.
“If they are not scared, if they are not losing their courage to stand up to the Taliban, we should learn from them,” she said.
For Mani, the resilience of Afghan women is unwavering.
“They keep changing tactics, searching for new ways to fight back,” she said. It’s a fight for dignity, freedom, and the future they deserve.
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