Claims Vs Reality: Will Women Be Free In Taliban Rule?

This is a crucial moment for women's rights in Afghanistan. Only 5 per cent of Afghan women go to college or university, and only 22 per cent Afghan women have jobs. An estimated 3.7 million children are out-of-school in Afghanistan, 60 per cent of them girls. The Taliban have stated that they will protect women's rights under Sharia, instructions that can cover a range of policies or behaviour. Sharia acts as a code of conduct to lead everyday aspects of life, but versions differ from one nation to another. The Taliban have had a history of oppression, women under their watch have been denied education and healthcare, with strict restrictions on their movement. While the Taliban have claimed they won't deny rights and women will be allowed to pursue education and careers, the reality differs. Women were recently turned away from a bank in Kandahar, while a woman anchor was turned away from the workplace. We ask Afghan women about the challenges ahead.