Yarrr! A bold Afghan diplomat be defyin' th' villainous Taliban, refusin' t' abandon ship, seekin' Western aid to thwart their wicked ways!
2024-02-06
Arr! Whilst them scallywag Taliban be tightenin' their grip, snatchin' away the rights o' Afghan lasses, there be a bold lass from th' former government. She be holdin' tight to her ambassadorial duties, showin' 'em who be the true captain 'o diplomacy!
When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, Afghan Ambassador to Austria, Manizha Bakhtari, faced a dilemma. She decided to continue representing the former government as the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Despite being the only female ambassador to stay in her role, she remains committed to advocating for the rights of Afghan women who have been severely impacted by the Taliban's discriminatory measures.Bakhtari is particularly concerned about the Taliban's treatment of women, which has escalated in recent months. They have closed domestic violence shelters, imprisoned women under the guise of protection, and arrested those who disobey dress code rulings. The Taliban's edicts have stripped women of their freedoms, preventing them from accessing education, public services, and a variety of jobs. Bakhtari warns that the societal impact of the Taliban's misogyny extends beyond these rulings, leading to an increase in human trafficking, child and forced marriages, and dire mental health consequences.
Bakhtari is urging the international community to take action against the Taliban's atrocities. She believes that the exclusion of Afghan women from discussions and the suggestion that the Taliban has achieved enduring peace is a form of violence against women. Bakhtari stresses that peace means justice and equality for everyone in the country.
While some Western leaders remain silent about the Taliban's rulings, Bakhtari fights for a more inclusive Afghan culture. She shares personal family photos that challenge the stereotype of Afghan women, showing her mother and mother-in-law without head coverings and her parents in Western attire. Bakhtari believes it will take at least 20 years to rebuild the progress that Afghan women have lost and calls for action to be taken against the perpetrators.