Protesters in St. John's decry 'gender apartheid' in Afghanistan, demand more international action

To demand action for women's rights in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, about two dozenpeople came together onMemorial University'scampus in St. John's onSaturday.

They hoped to highlight the struggles girls and women in the Central Asian country have been facing since the Taliban's government takeover almost one and a half years ago.

Rally co-organizer Maisam Najafizadasaidthe restriction of women's rights in the country "has reached a different level."

"It's not just the basic gender discrimination that we have got in some parts of the world, and patriarchy, of course," said Najafizada,a professor in the university's faculty of medicine.

"It has almost reached a level of apartheid, a gender apartheid."

The Taliban seizedpower in Afghanistan in August 2021after a 20-year Western military campaignto rebuild the country after the U.S. invasion in 2001.

Whiletheyinitially promised a moderate rule that would respect women's rights, a strict interpretation of Shariah, the Islamic law, has been implemented since. Women arebannedfrom many jobs,ordered tocompletely cover themselvesin public,and denied access to parks and gyms.

In March, Afghan girls were banned from attending middle and high school. On Dec. 20, female students were banned from universities a decision that wascondemned by many Western governmentsand sparkedprotests in the country. Most recently, on Dec. 24, Taliban authorities also announced a ban onwomen working in non-governmental organizations.

But outrage isn't enough, said Najafizada.

"We need to put the pressure that we have on the de facto authorities tomake changes.This isinternational catastrophe," he said.

"If you can't go to education, if the curriculums are very radicalized, you've got 40 million people who would be radicalized in the next decade. So [it's] very, very significant, not just to the people in Afghanistan."

Speaking up for Afghan women's rights, said Najafizada, has always beenimportant to him. When the Taliban first took over power in 1996, his younger sister was denied access to school. His father, keen on ensuring his daughter would be able to go to university, decided the family would leave the country.

"We were refugees for two years and we made sure my sister go to school. Soit was very dear to my father, who passed away last year," said Najafizada.

Luckily, he said, his sisters are all educated now. And he doesn't want any other girls or women in Afghanistan to be denied education.

"I want them to have the same opportunities thatmen have."

Najafizada, whois in touch with family and friends still in the country,said the bans on female education have far-reaching impacts.

"It's basically taking your rights to almost breathing," he said. "I heard from family and friends'daughters who are like 13, 14, and they tell [me], 'We can't even dream of becoming a nurse or a doctor or a teacher or a lawyer.'"

For Adela Kabiri, education is still possible. The student received a scholarship and came to the province in August to complete her PhD in sociology.

"As a woman who's suffering from extremism andsome traditional limitations and patriarchy, I can understand all women, they have this problem," said Kabiri, who calls herself a social activist.

"I'm trying to do something that can help for the people to achieve to equality."

While she said she was too young to remember the Taliban's 1996 government takeover and subsequent ban of girls' education, the current situation makes her understand itsconsequences. Thinking of the "hopeless"students in Afghanistan, Kabiri becomes emotional herself.

"NowI can understand the girls and the woman whoare not allowed to study, learn, go to work and free life," she said.

"I was working at the university in Afghanistan, so I'm in touch with many studentwho are studying at university and now they are not allowed to go to the university. Soit is very painful for me and I worry about.I talk with them every day, with the student, with the girl, and try to motivate them and try to make some hope for them."

Kabiri, who wants the international communitytointervene, criticizes theprioritizationofpolitical and economic interests.

"They spent many money in Afghanistan during the past 20 years. Many soldier of the developed country killed in Afghanistan because of fighting extremism. Why today all of them are silent?"said Kabiri.

"Everything is not economy. Everything is not power. The people are struggling, the people are trying to solve their problem in Afghanistanbut they are just watching, just looking, and nothing more."

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