Afghanistan's Hidden Crisis: The Growing Epidemic of Gender-Based Violence Under Taliban Rule
New data reveals an alarming rise in femicide and violence against Afghan women as the Taliban tightens its grip.
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기사입력 : 2024.08.16 00:34
The 300-plus femicides recorded since the Taliban's return to power represent only "the tip of the iceberg" when it comes to gender-based violence in Afghanistan, according to a recent analysis by open-source researchers. The Afghan Witness project, led by the Center for Intelligence Resilience, combed through social media and news reports to document 332 cases of femicide since the Taliban seized Kabul on August 15, 2021. These cases span the period from the U.S. troop withdrawal to the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
In an effort to shed light on the extent of the violence, the research also recorded 840 instances of gender-based violence against women and girls from January 2022 to June 2023—almost one case every day. In over half of the documented femicides, Taliban officials were identified as the perpetrators.
The Afghan Witness analysis also highlighted 115 instances of sexual violence committed by Taliban members, including forced marriage, sexual slavery, assault, and rape. Additionally, 73 cases involved non-sexual violence and torture, while 113 women were arrested for defying the regime's harsh restrictions on women’s freedoms. These repressive policies include prohibiting women from traveling long distances without a male guardian and curbing their presence in public life.
David Osborne, director of the Afghan Witness project, emphasized that the recorded data likely underestimates the true extent of the violence. The Taliban’s crackdown on independent media and persecution of journalists has made it increasingly difficult to report on the scale of the atrocities.
“What we have collected is just the tip of the iceberg,” Osborne said. “Afghan women are finding it harder to speak out, and documenting the violence under Taliban rule is becoming ever more challenging.”
Since their takeover, the Taliban have enacted what human rights groups describe as "gender apartheid," systematically excluding Afghanistan's 14 million women and girls from nearly every aspect of public life. Women are barred from secondary education, almost all forms of employment, and from visiting public parks, gyms, and beauty salons. The Taliban have also reintroduced brutal punishments, such as public flogging and stoning for adultery.
A United Nations survey conducted in December revealed that 76% of Afghan women reported poor or very poor mental health under the Taliban regime. Many cited insomnia, depression, anxiety, and other trauma-related symptoms.
Despite the risks, Afghan women continue to resist.
Some have organized protests in Kabul and other major cities, though demonstrations have been met with brutal repression. Testimonies published by the Guardian describe women protesters being beaten, abused, or imprisoned for their actions, with video evidence showing a female protester being raped inside a Taliban prison.
The data from Afghan Witness also shows a sharp decline in public protests against the Taliban. In 2021, 88% of protests took place outdoors, but by 2022 this figure had dropped to 49%. As of now, 94% of protests occur online, with participants hiding their identities and locations to avoid retribution.
The Taliban's oppression has only deepened in recent months. Afghan Witness verified footage from January 2024 showing mass arrests of women in Kabul, allegedly for not adhering to hijab regulations. Some of the detained women reported experiencing violence and sexual abuse while in custody.
As Afghanistan’s women face increasing isolation and violence, their plight serves as a stark reminder of the enduring struggles under Taliban rule. The true scale of the suffering remains largely hidden, but the stories that emerge continue to reveal the depth of the crisis.
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