Women in Afghanistan
With Belquis Ahmadi
Women's Rights Advocate
Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002; 2 p.m. EST

Under strict Taliban rule, women in Afghanistan were forced to wear burqas -- garments which covered their bodies from head to toe -- and in most instances were denied the right to work, the right to education, healthcare and most other basic human rights. Now with the Taliban removed from power and an interim government promising a prominent role for women, what is the state of women in Afghanistan? Have things really changed?

Belquis Ahmadi, an Afghan national who works in the Women's Rights Advocacy Program (WRAP) of the Law Group in Washington, D.C., fled Afghanistan six years ago when the Taliban came to power. She recently returned to her homeland and interviewed women to assess what has -- or hasn't -- changed for them and what needs to be done to force change.

Ahmadi was online Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. EST, to discuss the status of women in Afghanistan.

Ahmadi coordinates the work of WRAP Pakistan program for Afghan refugee women. Ms. Ahmadi has been working for the rights of women in Afghanistan since 1990 and maintains extensive contacts with women leaders, academics, journalists, writers, doctors and grassroots community leaders inside Afghanistan. She has designed several programs for Afghan youth to highlight the need for peace and democratic values in the Afghan society. Ahmadi specializes in peace building in Afghan society with a special emphasis on education programs for women and youth. Before joining the Law Group in 1999, Ahmadi, worked with the International Committee of the Red Cross and CARE-International in Kabul, Afghanistan and the Agency Coordinating Body for Afghan Relief in Peshawar, Pakistan. In addition, Ahmadi worked on several projects for Internally Displaced Persons and Widows. In 1995, she was selected by Afghan NGOs in Kabul to work as the liaison person between the NGOs and the then government of Afghanistan. She advocated women's rights concerns at government meetings until the Taliban took over Kabul and banned women from coming to any government meetings. In 1996, Ms. Ahmadi along with her female law school teacher founded the Afghan Women's Network in Kabul. In October 1996, she had to leave Afghanistan for Pakistan where she continued to organize Afghan women activists and young Afghans and reestablished her Kabul initiative of Afghan Women's Network in Peshawar, Pakistan. Ms. Ahmadi conducted awareness projects for Afghan women refugees on issues such as domestic violence, conflict resolution, grassroots mobilizing and community outreach and has also organized trainings on women's rights awareness. Ahmadi has written extensively on rights of Afghan women and has also raised the issue of violence against Afghan women at the UN Commission on Human Rights, and other international policy fora.

A transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Alexandria, Va.: You are obviously a legitimate charity. Are fake Islamic charities that are fronts for jihad trying to make a comeback in Afghanistan?

Belquis Ahmadi: Thanks for your question. I am not aware of fake Islamic charities.

Alexandria, Va.: Are any women in Afghanistan still wearing burqas and why?

Belquis Ahmadi: yes, there are women who prefer to be veield. I was only in Kabul and there i saw most of the women with burqas. Main reason described by women is related to the fear from some of the Mujahedeen and their improper acts between 1992 and 1996. Some women said that there are still supporters of the Taliban and women do not feel secure enough to be unveiled.

Burlington, Vt.: Hello, I have a few questions. First, have conditions in Afghanistan improved drastically since the Taliban have left or have they pretty much stayed the same? Second, what needs to be done for equal rights to completely exist within Afghanistan?

Belquis Ahmadi: In response to your first question, I think although the condition in Afghanistan has changed considerably since the Taliban have left, lack of infrastructure, health and educational facilities, lack of a trained police force and lack of employment for majority of Afghan professionals will remain as a chellenge to sustainable security and peace in Afghanistan. The Interim administration is seeking every opportunity to tackle these issues with the support from the international community. I think human rights education needs to go along with all other important programs. Individuls should be educated on their rights as human being, as Muslims and as citizens of Afghanistan.

peshawer: whats u think the northern alliances can better behave with women tnan taliban as we saw their last governement

Belquis Ahmadi: I am aware that some elements within the Mujaheen groups committed severe crimes, including crimes against humanity in various forms. Such elements should be brought to justice no matter which group they belong to.

Port St. Lucie, Fla.: In Afghanistan, Taliban was trying to prevent adultry. That's why they required all woman were fully covered. Look at America. Women all over the place practically naked and adultry everywhere. We too need protection. What are you ideas about women's freedom in Afghanistan?

Belquis Ahmadi: Sir, I am hoping that you are not suggesting the "protection that the Taliban kept talking about" for women here or in other parts of the world. The Taliban used the "protection" to cover their brutality and abuses against Afghan women. Violence against Afghan women enormously increased during the Taliban control of Afghanistan.

Madison, Wis.: What are the tennents in the Koran that promote the active subjugation, repression of women.

Belquis Ahmadi: I am not aware of such tenets in Qu’ran that promote repression of women. However, like in any other religion some erroneous interpretations of religious texts exists in Islamic countries.

Harrisburg, Pa.: It has been reported some women are fearful of casting aside the Taliban rules for fear the Taliban may return to power and retroactively enforce their rule. What is the level of fear amongst Afghan women?

Belquis Ahmadi: There are still fear of the Taliban not only among women but among men also. The interim administration is taking evey possible step to reduce those fears and help Afghan men and women re-strat their normal lives.

Charlottesville, Va.: Can we assume that lifting the Burkas will increase the likelihood of rape and other sexual offenses against women? If so, will the new government use different criteria for criminal prosecution, or will they use the strict Islamic rule that it takes two female witnesses for every male witness?

Belquis Ahmadi: I personally don't think violence being committed against women, including sexual and physical abuse will be less if women were veiled or unveiled. It has to do with men's attitude, behavior and mentality. There need to be contineous education and awareness raising about women's rights and individually, socially and culturally accepted norms and behaviors to all members of society.

Gettysburg, Pa.: It seems to me that individual rights don't mean anything unless the individuals know these rights exist. What is being done to educate Afghan women of their rights? In particular, how are Afghan women who came of age under the Taliban -- and hence may know no other system -- reacting to the changes?

Belquis Ahmadi: Organizations such as International Human Rights Law Group and other formal and informal groups, including Afghan lawyers and defenders of human rights are working on raising awareness on human rights including women's rights through various ways. However more needs to be done. Media and educational institutes will be the key source for such programs.

Washington, D.C.: Have you seen any evidence of Muslim re-education about what the faith does, and does not, advocate? If the extremists are so wrong in their representation of Islam (which we in America are told every day), what is the Islamic community doing to combat and correct the Islamic militants?

Belquis Ahmadi: There is a strong movement of progressive Muslims in most of the Muslim countries as well as in Afghanistan advocating for progressive interpretation of Islam.

Alexandria, Va.: Ms.Ahmadi --
First I would like to tell you that you make young Afghan women like me proud to be an Afghan woman because you are fighting and working for such a great cause.

I would like to know what I can or need to do to come and maybe assist you or what can I do here in this area to help.

Another thing, I am very interested in going back to Afghanistan to help women enhance there basic skills. Where could I get assistance in going back?

Belquis Ahmadi: Thank you for your comments.
I think Afghanistan need educated men and women to rebuild the country and help our people in starting normal life with respect and dignity. please check the UNDP website as well as the World Bank web for job opportunities.

Washington, D.C.: I truly hope the new government and education helps mankind and men understand that they alone are responsible for their behavior, both good and bad, and that women should not have to hide their shapes and identities for fear of abuse. It's stone-age behavior that is hard to understand in many countries.

Belquis Ahmadi: Thank you. I hope too that those people who pick on women's identities and women's dress code understand this fact.

Annandale, Va.: Hello Ms. Ahmadi,

I would like to ask if people who are serving in various NGOs and civil organizations are worried about the funding of these programs. Also do you think and are afraid that a prolonged troubles by warlords will create a situation that will make the international community abandon Afghanistan again. I would like to tell all Taliban sympathizers know that those who were and are friends of Taliban, are not friends of Afghans and Afghanistan. I commend your hard work and the hard work of many others in these tough times. Good luck.

Belquis Ahmadi: I cannot speak for other NGOs, but my understanding is that now there is more funding opportunity then before for NGOs.

First of all I hope that the warlords will come to their senses and not create troubles for people. Afghans are tired of war and infighting. Second if God forbids such situation occurs, the international community instead of abandoning the Afghans should rescue the people and not let the people lose hope--something that destroys humanity.

Arlington, Va.: Do you intend to go back to Afghanistan in the near future and would you consider moving back there permanently?

Belquis Ahmadi: I hope to to go back soon and help in rebuilding Afghanistan.

Washington, D.C.: What needs to be done to ensure the continued liberation of Afghan women? A broad question, I know, but I think it is also tied to the larger question on how to ensure the liberation and survival of Afghanistan. What plans do you think would work to bring a healthy economy to the country? Industry? Agriculture?

Belquis Ahmadi: You are absolutely right, ensuring women's rights and liberation is a broad question, however it is not impossible. it has worked in the past and can certainly work now. here is what should happen demiliterization of Afghanistan, creating employment opportunities for people, reopening and standardizing educational institutes, making education compulsory upto high school for girls and boys, providing health facilities, etc and introducing new technology and industry and support in Agriculture system.

Burke, Va.: Ms. Ahmadi,

Some experts in United States claim that the U.S. and the western world should not try in helping Afghans to establish a modern state. The reason, they claim that Afghans have no knowledge of and do not value Democracy and modernization. I disagree. What is your reaction? Thanks

Belquis Ahmadi: Like you I disgree with this claim. but what i do agree is that modernization and democracy cannot be imposed on others. what is democracy for some people may not be democracy for others. At this point Afghans should be provided the facilities and should be given the opportunity to choose their future. This does not mean that the US should not help them establish a modern state.

Vienna, Va.: Many of you here in this discussion and in the media in general (particularly the Western media) seem to be omitting one BIG question: What about the women who WANT to be fully covered and feel it is their duty to do so? While I do not care for this policy myself (and most people in the U.S. don't) I think we should respect the wishes of those who DO and realize that some women want it this way. Last time I looked, the Constitution guaranteed the right of religious worship, even if this means Middle-eastern style dress.

Belquis Ahmadi: you are sbsolutely right. Every human being should have the right to choose his/her dress code as long as it does not offend others. Those who wish to be covered and veiled should be respected.

Paris, France: How it comes that we are talking about Human Rights in Afghanistan and especially for women.
This is not a secret since a while, many magazines were writing about these women and how much they suffered with the Taliban.
But for now, this is not only these women who are in danger, but also all those who live in Iran, in Iraq,and they kill them for honor.
As long as this behavior toward the women will survive in many of the muslim countries, we will never be able to be free and safe.

Belquis Ahmadi: Men and women in every society be that Muslim or non-Muslim is known as human being and they are entitled to certain rights, those rights need to be protected. I think every individual in his/her own capacity should try to bring a positive change in others lives and promote and protect those rights.

Oakton, Va.: Ms. Ahmadi, burqas apparantly are worn in many places, not just in Afghanistan. I saw one yesterday at Dulles Airport.

Belquis Ahmadi: Burqa is not a Traditional Afghan dress code and women in other places wear it. In fact, in many areas of Afghanistan burqa is not known to people. The question is whether the woman herself has chosen to wear burqa or is it imposed by others.

Arlington, Va.: I want to help, but can't go to Afghanistan. Where can I donate money to?

Belquis Ahmadi: There are different ways to take part in reconstruction of Afghanistan, depending on what way you want your money be spent. There are different relief, development, health, educational and women's rights organizations that you can probably pick and support. if you are interested in helping in legal awareness and human rights education you can visit the www.hrlawgroup.org
I am sure there are other such organizations too.

Arlington, Va.: Won't it be difficult to change women's minds about wearing the burqa? Isn't that where the focus of education should be, as well as on men's ideas about women? Western society provides a poor example. We wander around with head, limbs, and torso exposed. Where can these women look for a middle ground? Perhaps Afghan women should create their own fashion industry, one that is adapted to their needs and wants, yet follows their religious beliefs. Any designers out there willing to try?

Belquis Ahmadi: There are designers in Afghanistan. when talking about Afghanistan let's all keep in mind that Afghanistan is a country with a history of civilization going back to centuries ago. Afghans have their traditional dress codes before the Taliban and the Mujahedeen women used to wear what they felt comfortable with. No one is trying to introduce a new dress code for women in Afghanistan.

Washington, D.C.: The Taliban came under power during President Clinton's term. Why has U.S. feminists groups done nothing? President Bush used military action without the applause of feminist groups like NOW.

Belquis Ahmadi: As far as I know a number of feminist groups have been raising Afghan women's issues in formal and informal meetings and events in the past.

Alexandria, Va.: How important to your concept of human rights is religious freedom? The Taliban effectively suppressed the practice of any religion but Islam, and other Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia, ban the exercise of religions other than Islam within the country and impose criminal sanctions if a Muslim attempts to convert to another religion. Do you see the promotion of religious freedom as a fundamental human right in Afghanistan?

Belquis Ahmadi: The Taliban's erroneous interpreation of Islam actually suppressed the belivers of Islam in Afghanistan. Islam in Afghanistan. Islam is the religion of 99% of Afghans.
Freedom of religion is a universally recognized standard, therefore geographical locations should not limit those freedom.

washingtonpost.com: Belquis, thank you for joining us today.

Belquis Ahmadi: Thank you too.

Belquis Ahmadi: Thank you all for your participation and contribution in making this a learning opportunity.

   |      |