Saturday 28 January 2023

Afghanistan: repression of women is tribal, not Islamic

 There is dissension in the ranks of the de facto government in Kabul after the attempts of the UN to prevent the prohibition of women working for aid agencies in the country. The UN representative has expressed optimism after talks with Afghan government representatives.

However, in public it seems that the hard Taliban line has prevailed in ignorance of traditional recognition by Islam of women's place in society. A recent emergency meeting of the intergovernmental Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) executive committee condemned what is happening in Afghanistan as against the holy Quran and Islam. The OIC aims on behalf of its 57 members to be the collective voice of the Muslim world.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...


Ffranc, while the Taliban are certainly exreme with regards to their interpretation, the Koran is quite emphatic regarding the status of women:

"Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard."

Anonymous said...

ٱلرِّجَالُ قَوَّٰمُونَ عَلَى ٱلنِّسَآءِ بِمَا فَضَّلَ ٱللَّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ وَبِمَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مِنْ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ ۚ فَٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ قَـٰنِتَـٰتٌ حَـٰفِظَـٰتٌۭ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱلَّـٰتِى تَخَافُونَ نُشُوزَهُنَّ فَعِظُوهُنَّ وَٱهْجُرُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلْمَضَاجِعِ وَٱضْرِبُوهُنَّ ۖ فَإِنْ أَطَعْنَكُمْ فَلَا تَبْغُوا۟ عَلَيْهِنَّ سَبِيلًا ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيًّۭا كَبِيرًۭا ٣٤

Husbands should take good care of their wives, with [the bounties] God has given to some more than others and with what they spend out of their own money. Righteous wives are devout and guard what God would have them guard in their husbands’ absence. If you fear high-handedness from your wives, remind them [of the teachings of God], then ignore them when you go to bed, then hit them.

Frank Little said...

But that does not preclude allowing women's education. Indeed, correct me if I'm wrong, but does not the Hadith give girls the right to education if there are no sons in the family?