Afghan Women Take A Self Defense Initiative
In 2001 we couldn’t on turn the TV or open a newspaper without hearing something about the plight of women in Afghanistan. We saw how the Taliban imposed oppressive rules on the women, forcing them to wear burkas, and punishing them if they attempted to work, go to school or in anyway become a productive free member of society.
Now we rarely hear anything about Afghanistan and next to nothing about how the women of that country are faring under the new constitution. There have been no more shows on Oprah, and no newscasts on CNN or 20 20, yet Afghan women are still dominated by the restrictive and oppressive rules imposed by corrupt Afghan leaders!
Yes, Afghanistan has a constitution which states women have equal rights and yes women are represented in the Afghan Parliament but the constitutional laws are still interpreted by powerful men. In many cases these are the warlords or drug lords who control each province and in the past have been the rapists and pillagers of villages.
These individuals often interpret Islamic laws with extreme prejudice towards women. Throughout many areas of Afghanistan, women are still subjugated and tried under Sharia Laws which are basically laws which judge a woman’s moral behavior. Young girls of 11 or 12 are still forced to marry old and abusive men. Women who attempt to run away from abusive marriages are often tried and punished under Sharia Law. Women are still stoned to death for what men judge to be crimes of immorality. Children and women are kidnapped, raped and then either killed or tried for immoral acts that were perpetrated against them.
Young women are committing self immolation (setting themselves on fire) as their only form of protest and escape. In many provinces they are without hope and many women and men are illiterate which aids in continuing this cycle of violence and subjugation.
The good news is that there are many strong, educated and courageous women who have made it their mission to change the plight of women in Afghanistan. I will tell you about one such woman, Manizha and will use only her first name because she is in Afghanistan risking her life by raising money and making arrangements to open safe houses for women there.
Manizha’s family fled Afghanistan and they have lived in the US since 1984. Manizha finished college in NY but her mission has always been to return to Afghanistan and work to make a difference in Afghan women’s lives. I knew I had to meet her when I read a statement she had made regarding Afghan women. She said, “How can we expect women to be safe in the streets of Afghanistan if they are not safe in their own homes.”
This belief was the catalyst for Manizha to return to Afghanistan and set up safe houses for Afghan women. In addition to providing a safe haven for women there will be programs to teach the women literacy and vocational skills as well as self defense!
Manizha’s goal requires not only financial support and planning but an enormous amount of courage! She has left her safe and tranquil life here in the states to make a positive change in her Afghan sisters’ lives. Underneath her soft-spoken, polite exterior is a warrior fighting against injustice! She believes if she reaches just 10% of the Afghan women and trains them they will affect the future of all countries where women are oppressed and thus make the world a safer place!
I had the privilege to be a part of Manizha’s self- defense training in New York last year. Now Manizha is in Afghanistan and I will be going there this Spring along with Sheila Haddad and Leni DeGoeyse to teach the various Afghan women’s groups self defense. We all agree that this is an opportunity to create a far reaching ripple effect that will make a difference for all women in the world and look forward to our journey .
AWSDA is sponsoring our trip through a special Afghan Women’s Self Defense Fund. Several members have already raised and donated money for this fund. Along with sponsoring our trip we would like to be able to make a contribution from AWSDA for Manizha’s safe houses. If anyone is interested in helping us achieve our goal of freedom for all women, please make your tax deductible contribution to AWSDA and designate the money to the Afghan Women’s Fund in the memo box. If you would like anymore information, please contact me at cmontoya@AWSDA.org. AWSDA has always made a tremendous impact on the lives of women throughout the world, let’s continue in Afghanistan!
Carol Montoya