The Taliban’s War on Women: An Islamic and Global Perspective

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 18 February 2025 Exposing the Unjust Policies and Advocating for Women’s Rights Main Points: · The article highlights the severe restrictions on Afghan women’s education, employment, and public presence, contradicting Islamic principles and human rights. · The Taliban’s interpretation of Shari’ah is refuted by Islamic teachings, with hadith emphasizing education for both men and women. · Renowned scholars and Muslim countries like Turkey, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia condemn the Taliban’s policies as un-Islamic. · The article urges Islamic institutions, scholars, and the international community to pressure the Taliban and uphold Afghan women’s rights through diplomatic and economic measures. … Miss Sara Sheikh’s article, The Taliban’s War On Women: A Nation’s Daughters In Peril, presents a powerful critique of the Taliban’s systematic oppression of Afghan women since their takeover in August 2021. The article meticulously details the draconian restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women's education, employment, healthcare, and even their visibility in public and private life. Sheikh compellingly argues that these policies are not only a gross violation of fundamental human rights but also a severe impediment to Afghanistan’s economic and social development. The article effectively illustrates how the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law contradicts both Islamic principles and the views of many contemporary Islamic scholars. The concept of Hijab in Islam, for instance, is meant to uphold dignity and modesty, not to justify complete erasure of women from society. The Taliban’s policies, which include banning secondary and higher education for girls and prohibiting women from employment, contradict the Islamic emphasis on knowledge-seeking, as reflected in the hadith: “Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim, male and female.” (Ibn Majah, Hadith 224) Sheikh highlights an alarming new measure—the “window test”—which bans windows that allow women to be seen from the outside. This reflects an extreme patriarchal obsession with controlling women’s existence, rather than any genuine religious concern. The Taliban’s actions are not merely political but amount to an erasure of women from public and private life, leaving Afghan women vulnerable to economic hardship, social isolation, and psychological distress. Islamic Scholars’ Perspectives on Women’s Rights Many renowned Islamic scholars have criticized the Taliban’s policies as un-Islamic and contrary to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Scholars such as Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Mufti Taqi Usmani have affirmed that Islam guarantees education for both men and women. Even in the early Islamic period, women like Hadrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) were prominent scholars and authorities in religious knowledge. Additionally, the former Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Shaykh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, explicitly stated that there is no Islamic justification for barring women from education and public life. Similarly, Pakistan’s Mufti Muhammad Rafi Usmani condemned the Taliban’s interpretation of Shari’ah as “harsh and unfounded in Islamic jurisprudence.” Muslim Countries’ Views on the Taliban’s Policies Many Muslim-majority nations have openly condemned the Taliban’s laws against women. For instance: Turkey has urged the Taliban to uphold women’s rights, emphasizing that Islam does not sanction gender discrimination. Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, has strongly criticized the Taliban’s stance, with Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah (two major Islamic organizations) affirming that Islam promotes equal educational opportunities. Saudi Arabia, which itself has undergone reforms in women’s rights, has advised Afghanistan to allow women’s participation in education and employment. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has also issued statements condemning the Taliban’s restrictions on women as incompatible with Islamic teachings. In a 2023 statement, the OIC emphasized that barring women from education and work is “detrimental to Afghanistan’s progress and against the values of Islam.” The Way Forward Sheikh’s article calls upon the international community to take concrete steps to address this issue. Muslim scholars and nations should continue exerting pressure on the Taliban through diplomatic and economic channels. Furthermore, Islamic institutions such as Al-Azhar and the OIC must play a more active role in clarifying authentic Islamic teachings on women’s rights to counter the Taliban’s distortions. Conclusion Sara Sheikh’s article provides an essential critique of the Taliban’s war on women and calls for global action. From an Islamic perspective, the Taliban’s policies are unjustified and contradict fundamental Qur’anic principles of equality, education, and dignity for women. Muslim scholars and countries must continue to challenge these oppressive measures to ensure that Afghan women are not deprived of their basic human and Islamic rights. … Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-human-rights/taliban-war-women-rights-islamic-global-perspective/d/134653 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism