'Strongly worded statements' won't do anything to save women from Taliban

Strongly worded statements won’t work. Former Afghan Olympian calls on world leaders to step up, stop gender apartheid

Friba Rezayee first realized she didn’t have the same rights as boys when she was just five years old. Growing up in Kabul, Afghanistan, Rezayee wasn’t allowed to play outside or ride a bike like her brothers. That didn’t stop her. She trained to become one of the first two female Olympians from Afghanistan, competing in judo in the 2004 Athens Games. 

Despite leaving her mark on history and inspiring a generation of girl athletes, Rezayee returned home from the Games to death threats. She permanently left Afghanistan in 2010 and moved to Canada. Today, she serves as the executive director of Women Leaders of Tomorrow in Vancouver where she helps Afghan girls escape the Taliban’s oppressive regime to pursue education and sports. We sat down with Rezayee to discuss the state of women and girls in Afghanistan as part of our series on the subject.

Why do you think the Taliban is so focused on oppressing women? They know that if women have education and employment, they will have power and influence in the household and in the community, and they don't want that. They always want to keep women in the kitchen and subservient to men. That's a very old, classic Sharia law movement and [has resulted in the] introduction of gender apartheid. The Taliban believes that women are prone to committing sin, prone to breaking Sharia law, traditions, and values. Men can do no wrong. They are naturally obedient to Sharia law and rules, policies and procedures, and women are [seen as] the opposite. So they keep issuing edicts to restrict women's rights and women's movement and basically to erase women from society… They have a saying in Afghanistan and now the Taliban are implementing it: “Women are like birds — you must cut the bird's wings, otherwise, she will be free and she will fly away.”

Has the international response to the second Taliban regime led to any improvements for women? So far, what the United Nations has done, including the State Department of the United States and its NATO allies — whenever the Taliban issues an edict and violates women's rights, they only issue strongly worded statements. Those statements do not register in the Taliban's mind. Taliban don't care about those statements. They don't even read. It doesn't matter to them. What we really need is concrete actions against the Taliban to set a precedent that what you're doing to women's rights and girls' rights is unacceptable and wrong and we will not tolerate it. It's very simple.

What needs to change?  The international community really needs to see Afghan women as equal to other women in the world. We are as talented, as smart, but we are seen as unworthy of the [efforts] of the international community. The world needs to understand that Afghan women are not charity… There are many Afghan women's rights activists in North America and Europe — in Afghanistan as well. If you work with them directly, they will be empowered and they will be recognized. And do not recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government. They are a de facto authority imposed on Afghans. Taliban are not Afghans — they do not represent us… Taliban leaders are traveling via world-class and luxury flights to Qatar, to Dubai, even to Europe. Two years ago, the Norwegian government invited the Taliban on a private jet to come to Oslo for a talk. And the Afghan men's cricket team is flying internationally. [They have a] luxurious lifestyle and they are treated as celebrities. They're representing gender apartheid. Don't support men who are supporting the Taliban and do not support any organization or entity that supports the Taliban and men’s-only teams, and men’s-only representation. Always invite Afghan women to the table of discussion when it comes to women's rights, human rights, and gender equality to make sure that they're heard and seen.

How can people support these efforts? We (WLOT) will have a walk in solidarity with Afghan women this spring in Canada. It's #WalkWithAfghanWomen — join us. Host it in your community. Raise awareness on social media and in your community… Each individual in the community is significant. They can make a difference, they can talk to their congressperson, they can talk to the senators, they can talk to lawmakers to support women's rights and to not recognize the Taliban.

What do you wish to say to girls in Afghanistan? Don't give up. The principles of human rights are stronger than men with guns.