By Maiwand Nazary*
“Education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it” – Hannah Arendt
In the face of intensifying systemic oppression, Afghan women have risen up as embodiments of strength and persistence. Through my podcast (Jaad-e Maiwand Podcast), which offers a platform for dialogue with female Afghan thought leaders and activists from diverse backgrounds, I’ve had the privilege of delving deeper into their fight for education. A recent conversation with Pashtana Durrani, a formidable force in advocating for education, underscored the magnitude of this struggle. Her unwavering bravery and commitment highlighted a hidden world of improvised classrooms and secret educational pursuits, showing Afghan women to be ardent champions of enlightenment rather than merely survivors.
Let’s take a step back to August 2021. Kabul, the beating heart of Afghanistan, was once again under the control of the Taliban after enjoying two decades of relative freedom. The world, having seen years of talks between the Taliban and Western countries, hoped for a less extreme version of the group. However, once the sounds of victory gunfire faded, it became clear that the Taliban had not changed – they were still deeply committed to an extreme and harmful mix of Islamic radicalism and harsh control over women.
In a short time, the reinstated Islamist government reinstated the punishing grip of gender apartheid and commanded women to leave their jobs. Once again, women were brutally shoehorned back into the private sphere, their public presence erased as if it were no more than an aberration. Afghan girls were stripped of their rightful place in schools and universities, their seats irrevocably emptied. From the sixth grade, girls’ schools were peremptorily closed, extinguishing the flicker of enlightenment that education had kindled.
As of the time of writing, these educational institutions remain closed, keeping millions of girls bereft of the empowering light of knowledge. Moreover, hijab law was enacted across the land, becoming an emblem of the pervasive patriarchal control that seeks to dictate every facet of a woman’s life. The Taliban had once more subjected Afghan women to an archaic and dehumanizing domesticity, condemning them to a life behind the veil and closed doors.
Hannah Arendt, one of the most influential political philosophers of the twentieth century, argued that the essence of evil was not grand malevolence but thoughtlessness and blind adherence to a violent ideology. The Taliban’s imposition of their stringent, patriarchal norms is a perfect, albeit disturbing, embodiment of this. It serves as a stark reminder of the danger that thoughtless acceptance of such an extreme ideology poses to society, particularly when it leads to the erosion of human rights.
Hannah Arendt famously noted, “The aim of totalitarian education has never been to instill convictions but to destroy the capacity to form any.” It’s a chilling truth that echoes profoundly across the vast, complex terrains of Afghanistan’s socio-political landscape, where the Taliban’s iron grip has systematically strangled the life out of the most fundamental of rights — the right to education, thought, and choice.
Over the years, the Taliban’s hateful ideology and oppressive rule have held vast sections of southern, eastern, and parts of northern Afghanistan in a state of terror. Ordinary Afghans, trapped in this pitiless snare, are barely left with the resources to survive, let alone contemplate grand concepts such as free elections, democracy, freedom of speech, or the right to education.
“Taliban culture is Afghan culture”
The cruel paradox of the current predicament is the audacious mischaracterization by the wider world, asserting that the Taliban’s austere existence mirrors the essence of Afghan culture. Such a claim couldn’t be further from the truth. Offer Taliban’s lofty ideals to the people of these regions, and their response — laughter as they gesture towards their empty stomachs — paints a stark portrait of their harsh reality.
In the past two decades, persistent internal conflicts and ceaseless, ruthless attacks on roadways by the same people currently in power had essentially cut off Afghans in the country’s remote areas. In Uruzgan, for example, Malalay High School is a testament to this complexity. Despite its 18 years of continuous service, some local families, even those blessed with relative economic comfort, refused to send their daughters to school. The reason? They point at the school walls, pockmarked by bullets and standing as a grim reminder of the deadly tug of war between government forces by day and Taliban insurgents by night. How could they subject their daughters to such a dangerous game? And so, even boys fell into the abyss of illiteracy. Such inaccessibility bred ignorance, fostered a divide in comprehension, and hindered the understanding of the socio-political realities in these beleaguered regions.
The claim that “Taliban culture is Afghan culture” is often brought forward, yet such an assertion overlooks the stark contrast between the values upheld by the Taliban and the genuine essence of the broader Afghan culture. The Taliban, through their harmful ideology masked as religious fervor, view education as an undesirable luxury and perilous undertaking. This directly contradicts Afghan values that hold knowledge, wisdom, and tolerance in high regard and envisage a future where Afghan children, unencumbered by ignorance and fear, can thrive.
Unyielding hope
Despite the grim situation, an encouraging beacon of hope shines within the country – its girls. These resilient young women have taken the dire circumstances into their own hands, teaching younger girls in clandestine locations spread across the country. Their courage and initiative stand as a formidable counterpoint to the oppressive regime they endure.
In the province of Bamiyan, for instance, young women have established hidden classrooms in basements, imparting valuable knowledge to younger children. Many of these brave young educators were once university students themselves. Meanwhile, in Badakhshan, girls are seeking out textbooks and striving to establish more structured educational environments for their peers. This unique strategy underscores the strength and determination that is intrinsic to Afghan women and girls. They believe in the transformative power of education. As educated Afghan women, they view girls’ education as a solemn duty they will uphold, come what may. This relentless commitment is a testament to their faith in education’s power to shape the future and a beacon of hope for a brighter tomorrow in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s ideological reprogramming of Afghanistan’s education system
The Taliban have instigated sweeping transformations in the education system, designed to mold the next generation with their dogmatic convictions. It’s a scenario reminiscent of George Orwell’s 1984, where those in power manipulate the flow of information to shape public consciousness. In an eerie echo of Orwell’s “thought police,” the Taliban have replaced teachers, administrators, and staff with their own members.
In addition to eradicating the former modern education system, the Taliban are creating a blueprint for their jihadist schools. Each “Sheikh-al-Hadith,” akin to an instructor of the party, receives a salary of 25,000 afghani, while every enlisted student gets a daily stipend of 150 afghani. Given the current financial hardships in the country, those economic incentives may lure families into enrolling their children in these schools.
Defying the dystopia
“This is the precept by which I have lived: Prepare for the worst; expect the best; and take what comes” – Hannah Arendt
Let’s be clear: as long as the Taliban keep their grip on power, they’ll do everything they can to stop women from getting an education and taking part in society. This fight isn’t just about schools and textbooks but is also about the harsh economic reality in which millions live.
Afghanistan’s economy is in bad shape. Families are struggling. Some feel they must reduce the number of mouths to feed at home. Often, the first to be let go are the daughters as girls, some barely teenagers, are forced into marriages.
Seeing this trend, secret projects like Learn Afghan (Learn Afghan) are giving girls more than just basic schooling. They also teach valuable skills that can make money. These programs can help girls to stand up to their families if they’re being pushed into getting married too young.
By teaching these girls marketable skills and allowing them to contribute economically to their families, we’re challenging the stereotypical roles enforced by the Taliban. It’s a dual attack – an education to equip them for the future and also financial independence that allows them to resist the societal pressure of early marriage.
What’s more, the education these projects provide doesn’t just change the lives of the girls involved; it ripples outwards, impacting families and communities. An educated girl can help lift her family out of poverty, change the mindset of those in her community, and, in the long term, contribute to the overall growth and development of the nation. This is the power inherent in education.
As we tread this challenging path, we find inspiration in the tireless Afghan daughters, mothers, sisters, and wives who are enduring the unendurable and yet, persist. They stand as a testament to the belief that even in the bleakest of nights, dawn is but a promise away. We owe it to them and ourselves to prepare for that coming day for it’sthese formidable women who will serve as the torchbearers, leading us through these dark times toward a brighter tomorrow. They have already demonstrated their immense strength and resilience to the world, proving they will be the architects of change. It’s the indomitable spirit of these Afghan women that fuels our unwavering hope for a future where their voices are heard, their potential is realized, and their rights are secured.
* Maiwand Nazary is the manager of clinical data and women’s rights activist.
