AFGHANISTAN: Women still not free

BY KIM BULLIMORE

Despite claims by the Western media that women are now “free” in
Afghanistan, women and organisations that support women's rights are still
being targeted by the Northern Alliance-dominated, US-backed government
in Kabul.

According to the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA),
little has changed for women since the fall of the Taliban. While it is
no longer compulsory by law for women to wear the veil, the majority continue
to do so for fear of being attacked. Women remember the bloody rule of
the Northern Alliance from 1992 to 1996, in which thousands of women were
killed, abducted and raped by its militia.

While women in the bigger cities can now go outside and attend school,
the schools have few educational materials or furniture. However, little
has changed in remote areas, where women still do not have freedom of movement.
According to RAWA, there have been numerous reports of rape and violence
against women by government forces.

RAWA still remains semi-underground within Afghanistan because the Kabul
regime has refused to “register” it as a legitimate organisation. However,
RAWA continues to expose the anti-democratic and anti-women tactics and
policies of the Northern Alliance factions through its publications and
at demonstrations.

Northern Alliance factions have stepped up harassment of RAWA members
and supporters. In one recent incident, gunmen raided a bookshop in Kabul
where RAWA publications were sold. The gunmen threatened the shopkeeper,
demanding he identify RAWA members before removing all the publications
from the shop. In another incident, a RAWA supporter caught copying a RAWA
statement in a Kabul market was imprisoned and tortured, only being released
after paying a bribe.

A RAWA Supporters Australia group has been established in Sydney. For
more information, phone Katina on 0402 327 334, Jane on 0415 713 567 or
email < rawa_australia@yahoo.com>.

From Green Left Weekly, August 28, 2002.

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From GLW issue 506