“Taliban have weaponized Islam to justify their oppression”
After the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, Afghanistan has spiraled into a state of fear, repression, and lost hope. What was once a nation striving for progress has now been suffocated by the same extremist group that ruled with brutality two decades ago. The swift withdrawal of U.S. forces allowed the Taliban to regain power, undoing years of hard-fought rights and freedoms, especially for women.
Families, like mine, have been left to gather every possible bit of cash, as the economy has deteriorated under Taliban rule. Jobs that once provided livelihoods are now systematically taken by members of the Taliban, leaving ordinary Afghan citizens in a state of desperation. My family’s lives, like many others, were upended almost overnight as the Taliban took control.
“It was just another school day,” my mother recalls. “I was at my all-women’s university when the Taliban stormed in. They forced us out, and as we lined up to leave, I felt a hand stop me. I wasn’t wearing a hijab, and they tried to punish me. I managed to run away, but I knew if I hadn’t, the consequences would have been severe.”
This is just one story, but it reflects the daily terror faced by Afghan women who are punished under the guise of religious piety. The Taliban have weaponized Islam to justify their oppression, twisting its teachings and narrative to suit their misogynistic and violent agenda. The U.S. withdrawal left more than just a vacuum of power. It also left behind billions of dollars in artillery, transport, and ammunition.
The finalized efforts which were taken to ensure evacuation of all U.S. personnel seemed to have had a flaw. According to government reports, the American military abandoned nearly $50 million worth of military equipment behind; including tanks, aircraft, and ammunition. These resources have not only empowered the Taliban but have also been traced to neighboring countries like Pakistan. It’s an unsettling realization that American funds and weapons have inadvertently aided the very group they once sought to dismantle.
The Taliban, now standing more powerful than ever before, continue to fund their reign of terror. Their policies enforce gender segregation, destroy education, and exploit Afghanistan’s natural resources for their own gain, rather than for the benefit of the watan (nation). The situation is heartbreaking for Afghan-Americans like myself, who see the suffering of their homeland only deepen after the U.S. evacuation which naturally fortified the Taliban’s reign.
During the age of U.S. and Soviet occupations, there was at least a semblance of hope, especially for women. Afghan women were able to attend school, run their own businesses, and reclaim their independence. Today, those rights have been eradicated, and Afghanistan has reverted to a state of suppression.
To bring about change, the global community must impose sanctions on the Taliban, support Afghan resistance movements, and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians, not extremists. Governments and organizations must prioritize education, human rights, and women’s empowerment while pressuring the Taliban to relinquish control and allow Afghanistan to rebuild, free from oppression and discrimination.