Last August when I woke up to the news that Kabul,
the capital of Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban rule, my heart shattered. Faces
of Afghan women and girls floated through my mind as I wondered what their
futures held. I feared what little progress had been made over the past two decades
would be decimated under the rule of the Taliban. And indeed it has.
As I drive my oldest son to school, I ponder how
something commonplace can be denied mothers in Afghanistan. Women in
Afghanistan aren’t allowed to drive, much less step foot outside
their door without a male escort. While my son could
qualify as an escort, once I drop him off at school I’d be in violation of
being in public without male representation.
According to Richard
Bennett, a Special Rapporteur on human rights in
Afghanistan, the Taliban declared girls’ education would end after elementary
school and are “making women invisible in society.” The Taliban are making
their priorities clear: women and girls have no public role in the society they
wish to shape.
“In one of the poorest countries in the world, a
country where children are regularly victims of explosive remains of war, a
country still battling polio, not a campaign against hunger, explosives,
disease, but one against women,” tweeted Shaharzad Akbar, former chairperson
for Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission.
In a country that wishes to silence women and girls,
the world is faced with a problem. How do we stand up for those whose voices
are trying to be hushed? But a bigger issue casts its shadow over the world. Do
we care? Or will we continue on with our lives claiming we tried, but couldn’t
figure it out?
If it was our daughters who couldn’t attend middle
school, we would be outraged. If we couldn’t drive ourselves to pick up
groceries from Target, we would be angered. If our sisters were required to
cover their entire faces in public, we’d be upset. But when it’s half a world
away in a land ravaged by wave after wave of war, we shrug our shoulders. And
with this lackadaisical response, we participate in the silencing of women and
girls in Afghanistan.
WALKING ALONGSIDE AFGHAN WOMEN AND GIRLS
As Christians, we are exhorted to speak up for and
to “defend the rights” of those who need help (Prov. 31:8, 9). While Afghan
women aren’t helpless, they need others to show care for them as they walk
through another dark chapter in their country’s history. As we understand from
our own experiences, knowing we are not alone as we encounter turbulent times
is instrumental in moving forward and holding onto hope.
The Bible teaches that both men and women are
created in the image of God—one gender is not more valuable than the other. In
Proverbs 31, the value a woman brings to a society and community is beautifully
displayed. We want to remind Afghans, ourselves, and others of the incredible
worth these ladies have, but aren’t currently experiencing in their homeland.
Afghan women are hardy and can teach the Western
world much about resiliency. Many have lived through the first reign of Taliban
terror, some even fleeing with the clothes on their back for the border. Most
women have buried husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and uncles from the
never-ending war. Despite the instability, heartache, and chaos, they still can
laugh over a cup of green tea with neighbors.
But we can support these women and girls in the
dusty, rocky land of Afghanistan. We can take an active role in ensuring they
know we see, value, and care about them. Here are five ways we can walk
alongside Afghan women and girls:
5 WAYS TO SPEAK UP
1) Cultivate a connection to Afghan
women and girls. When story headlines remain abstract,
we are more prone to scroll past. But if we learn about the lives, culture, and
stories of these ladies, we will be more likely to track with what’s
transpiring because we care on a deeper level. For adults, I recommend reading In the Land of Blue Burqas. For
kids, consider listening to the audiobook I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up
for Education and Changed the World (Young Readers
Edition) for ages 10 and up.
2) Spend time praying for Afghan women
and girls. Consider utilizing these
short stories with prayer prompts to guide your time. As
we increase our understanding about the lives of Afghan women and girls, we can
better pray for them.
4) Support organizations providing assistance
to Afghan women and girls. These
groups provide tangible assistance to those who need it in country.
5) Build relationships with Afghan
refugees. Many Afghans have relocated to the US. Consider
reaching out to a local refugee resettlement agency to see if you can help
refugees transition to life in America. As you meet Afghans, ask questions
about their lives and seek to gain their perspective on what’s transpiring in
their homeland.
We can affirm the worth of Afghan women and girls
and stand up to the forces that strive to mute their voices. We can choose to
cultivate love for a people and land we may never meet or step foot in because
we know our God is a God who sees and looks after (Gen. 16:13) every woman
around the globe. And if God cares, then we should, too.
.png)
.jpg "Photo by Suad Kamardeen on Unsplash")
.jpg "Photo by Hasan Almasi on Unsplash")
