The Shadow Of Taliban Rule: Life Under Afghanistan's New Regime

The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 has had a devastating impact on the lives of Afghan citizens, particularly women and girls. The Taliban has imposed strict restrictions on women's access to education, employment, healthcare, and mobility, with women being banned from most workplaces and girls being prohibited from attending school beyond the sixth grade. The Taliban has also replaced the Ministry of Women's Affairs with the Ministry of the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which enforces oppressive rules on women's conduct, dress, and behaviour. The economic situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule is dire, with mass unemployment, a collapse in the housing market, and increased rates of malnutrition. The Taliban's inability to effectively govern and their harsh interpretation of Islamic law have led to a deterioration in human rights, security, and living standards for Afghans.

Women's rights and education have been severely restricted

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, they have imposed strict restrictions on women's rights and access to education. Women have been banned from working in most sectors, with the exception of health and education. The Taliban have also prohibited girls from attending secondary school and banned women from attending university.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's rights have had a devastating impact on the lives of Afghan women and girls. Women have reported feelings of insecurity, fear, anxiety, hopelessness, insomnia, and a deep sense of loss and helplessness. The loss of income and employment opportunities has left many women unable to provide for their families, with those who were the sole breadwinners now facing financial ruin.

The Taliban's enforcement of these rules through intimidation and inspections has created an atmosphere of fear. Women who worked for foreign organisations or the previous Afghan government are particularly at risk of intimidation and violence. The Taliban's dismantling of the formal police force and the Women's Affairs Ministry has further exacerbated the sense of insecurity among women.

The right to education has also been severely restricted for women and girls under Taliban rule. Girls are banned from attending secondary school, and women are prohibited from attending university. This has disrupted the education of thousands of girls and young women, causing feelings of anger, despair, and a sense of gender discrimination.

The Taliban have also imposed strict dress codes and restrictions on women's mobility. Women are required to wear the burqa in public and are not allowed to travel long distances without a male chaperone. These restrictions have limited women's freedom of movement and created difficulties for those who cannot afford a male chaperone or a burqa.

The Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law has resulted in the segregation of women and the denial of their fundamental rights. Women are not allowed to appear in public without a male chaperone or without wearing a burqa. They are prohibited from speaking loudly in public and are banned from certain public spaces such as parks and gyms.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's rights have far-reaching consequences and are a stark reminder of the previous Taliban regime's oppressive policies towards women. The international community must take a strong stand against these violations and work towards ensuring that the rights of Afghan women and girls are protected and respected.

The economy is in a catastrophic state

Afghanistan's economy has been in a catastrophic state since the Taliban takeover. The country's GDP is estimated to have dropped by around 20% to 30% since the Taliban took power, with some sources citing a figure as high as 40%. This has had a devastating impact on the lives of ordinary Afghans, with 90% struggling to get by on their household incomes and 86% unable to afford food.

The economic crisis in Afghanistan has multiple causes. Firstly, the Taliban takeover led to a sudden stop in foreign aid, which made up a significant portion of the country's GDP. The US froze $9.5 billion in foreign reserves, Germany suspended $300 million in aid, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) suspended $440 million in special drawing rights (SDR) allocation. Additionally, the Taliban's failure to break ties with Al-Qaeda led to further sanctions and a pause in aid by some countries and international organizations.

Secondly, the Taliban's policies have discouraged foreign investment and led to a brain drain of educated Afghans leaving the country. The Taliban's harsh interpretation of Islamic law, including restrictions on women's rights and freedoms, has scared off potential investors. The ban on female education and the prohibition of women working in most jobs will have a damaging impact on Afghanistan's long-term economic and social development, as well as accelerating the brain drain.

Thirdly, the Taliban inherited a weak and dysfunctional economy. Even before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan's economy was highly dependent on foreign aid, with 75% of public spending funded by international grants. The previous government was also highly corrupt, with widespread corruption exacerbated by a highly centralized fiscal system.

The economic crisis in Afghanistan has had severe consequences. There has been a massive increase in unemployment, with job losses estimated to reach 900,000 by mid-2022. The agriculture sector, which employs a large portion of the population, has been affected by drought and natural disasters such as flash floods and earthquakes. The banking sector has also been paralyzed by sanctions against senior Taliban leaders, preventing Afghanistan from engaging with the international financial system. As a result, there has been a liquidity crisis and a shortage of banknotes, further contributing to the economic woes.

The Taliban have struggled to govern the country effectively and address the economic crisis. They lack the financial and economic expertise needed to manage the country's central banking system and implement sound monetary policy. Their choice of personnel for key economic positions, such as appointing senior Taliban member Mohammad Idris as the acting governor of the central bank, has been criticized. Idris has no experience in finance or banking, which does not bode well for Afghanistan's future financial policy.

The economic crisis in Afghanistan has also had a disproportionate impact on women and girls, who already faced significant obstacles in obtaining education, employment, and financial resources. The Taliban's policies have further restricted their access to education and employment, with women banned from most paid jobs and girls prohibited from attending school beyond the sixth grade. This has had a devastating impact on households where women were the sole or main earners. Additionally, the collapse of the healthcare system has compromised women's access to sexual and reproductive health care, and the risk of child marriage has increased due to escalating poverty.

There is a lack of food security

Afghanistan is facing a severe food crisis, with almost half of children under five and a quarter of pregnant and breastfeeding women requiring life-saving nutrition support in the next 12 months. The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that millions of Afghans could run out of food before the end of the year, with 15.8 million already facing crisis levels of food insecurity.

The situation has been exacerbated by the Taliban takeover, with the country's economy on life support. The Taliban's control of highways and transportation channels has disrupted food supply chains, and gender inequality under their leadership is worsening food insecurity for women and their families. The Taliban have directed all women to stay away from work, and with women making up almost 20% of the businesses in the food production and processing sector, this is further restricting food supplies.

The economic collapse has seen a sharp depreciation of the Afghan currency, with the exchange rate dropping from 80 Afs per US dollar to 110 Afs per US dollar. Food and other commodity prices have at least doubled, with a 200g loaf of bread, a staple for Afghan families, rising from 10 Afs to 20 Afs. The loss of income has left families struggling to find money to sustain themselves, with some resorting to selling their children.

The Taliban takeover has also resulted in the suspension of central bank assets worth over US$9 billion and the pause of most aid from the US and international donors, further contributing to the food crisis. The lack of available funds, even in private financial institutions, has left Afghans unable to buy food and other essential goods.

To address the growing acute needs of Afghans, the removal of bureaucratic red tape and refraining from politicizing aid are crucial. Strengthening agricultural food systems and local capacity, as well as integrating displaced people into food supply chains, are essential steps to improve food security in the country.

Healthcare is crumbling

Afghanistan's healthcare system was already constrained by a shortage of female healthcare providers before the Taliban took control in August 2021. The situation has only worsened since.

Loss of International Funding

The Taliban takeover has resulted in the loss of international funding for healthcare, with the World Bank and other organisations freezing $600 million in healthcare aid. This has meant that many healthcare workers have not been paid for months, and there is a lack of medical supplies and equipment.

Restrictions on Women's Movement

The Taliban's restrictions on women's movement have impacted their ability to access healthcare services. Women are not allowed to travel more than 45 miles without a male relative, and some women have reported being prevented from receiving treatment from male doctors. This has resulted in an overall decrease in the number of women accessing healthcare.

Impact on Maternal and Child Health

The loss of funding and restrictions on women's movement have had a devastating impact on maternal and child health. Many pregnant women are unable to access healthcare facilities due to the lack of transportation or a male guardian. There are also concerns about the impact of the ban on girls' education on the future supply of female healthcare workers.

Increase in Malnutrition and Food Insecurity

The economic collapse under the Taliban has led to increased malnutrition and food insecurity, with nearly 20 million people in need of food assistance. This is expected to result in increased child and maternal mortality.

COVID-19 and Other Diseases

The loss of funding for healthcare comes at a critical time, with Afghanistan facing a potential fourth wave of COVID-19 and outbreaks of polio, measles, malaria, and dengue. There are also concerns about the country's ability to respond to other diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV.

Human rights violations are rampant

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, human rights violations have been rampant. The Taliban has imposed strict rules on women's dress and conduct, which have affected every aspect of their lives, including their career options. Women have been prohibited from most jobs outside the home and banned from attending school past the sixth grade. The Taliban has also tried to erase women's presence in public life by, for instance, preventing them from obtaining driver's licenses.

The Taliban has also cracked down on independent media and severely restricted press freedoms, leading to the closure of more than 200 news organizations. They have intimidated journalists and restricted press freedoms. They have violently cracked down on demonstrations and forcibly disappeared protesters and activists.

The Taliban has also targeted women who worked for foreign organizations or the previous Afghan government. Women have reported feeling acute insecurity due to the Taliban's dismantling of the formal police force and the Women's Affairs Ministry. The Taliban has also been accused of extortion, demanding "taxes" from communities with no transparency and in a context of reduced government services.

The Taliban has eroded mechanisms and services that were in place to provide protection and legal counselling to women. For example, they have deprived Afghans, particularly women, of access to independent defence attorneys by making the Afghanistan Independent Bar Association (AIBA) part of the Ministry of Justice. The Taliban has also replaced experienced judges with their own members, most of whom have no formal legal education.

The Taliban's rollback of rights has affected not only women but also young Afghans, who have been forced out of the workforce and left in dire financial and humanitarian straits. The Taliban's oppressive policies have also impacted the mental health of Afghans, causing fear, anxiety, hopelessness, insomnia, and a deep sense of loss and helplessness.

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