In French literature, there is a phrase known as “le pays sans femmes,” which means “a country without women.” It represents an imaginary land where women exist but in silence. They are deprived of basic rights, including education, freedom of speech, participation in politics, and access to healthcare. A French philosopher, Simone de Beauvoir, in her book “The Second Sex,” wrote an everlasting statement that “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” This statement emphasized that social norms, rather than biological ones, construct gender roles. It explained how societal norms can shape women’s identity by restricting their freedom.

What once appeared as a literary imagination has, unfortunately, become reality. Afghanistan under Taliban rule is a real-life example of le pays sans femmes. The Taliban has implemented rules that have restricted women from participating in education, politics, etc. They saw women as mere objects. In their eyes, women have no right over men; their sole purpose is reproduction to continue the lineage. According to UNESCO, Afghanistan is the only country across the globe where girls’ education is banned, due to which approximately 2.2 million women are illiterate. Thus, the metaphor “le pays sans femmes” is no longer fictional; it has transformed into a bitter reality. Afghanistan resembles le pays sans femmes, as Taliban laws have erased women from public spheres.

Women in Afghanistan Pre-Taliban Rule

In the period 2001-2021, the literacy rate of females in Afghanistan rose. As of the year 2018, more than 3.5 million girls were enrolled in primary and secondary schools. Women were also engaged in politics. The lower house (Wolesi Jirga) was allotted 27 per cent of the seats, and the provincial councils were allotted 25 per cent of the seats that were reserved for women. It resulted in the election of the first woman vice president of Afghanistan, Fawzia Koofi, in 2014. Habiba Sarabi became the first woman to serve as governor of Bamyan Province between 2005 and 2013. Shukeria Barakzai, Malalai Joya, and Fawzia Gailani were members of parliament. They ensured the rights of women, gender equality, and education.

The Taliban’s return to power terminated all these developments. Girls were restricted from attending schools. Girls’ schools were destroyed. Their jobs were confiscated. They were restricted from going outside of their........

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