Afghanistan
August 24th, 2008 by Wil Robinson
Afghanistan is a country beset by war.
A generation of people have known nothing other than death, destruction, and poverty. The Soviet invasion of 1979 initiated a three-decade long assault on ordinary Afghans, resulting in one of the lowest life-expectancies in the world at just 45 years.
I visited northern Afghanistan in December 2007 in search of answers that were not in the mainstream media. I had several questions, but was focused on one particular issue that gets attention in Western media for all the wrong reasons. In a land where the blue burqa is an infamous symbol of female oppression, I wondered if there were men who were helping to fight the violence, degradation, and violations of human rights that Afghan women suffer. I ventured out in search of ‘male feminists.’
I found them, and these are their stories. They are quiet, working behind the scenes in fear that their liberal views may cost their own or their families’ lives. They work in local NGOs, for the United Nations, and even in the government.
The obvious question arose. Why? Why did these men risk their lives for women?
I got one very surprising and nearly unanimous answer:
Islam demands it of them.
There is a movement in Afghanistan. Men from all walks of life are sharing new interpretations of Islam, of the Quran, of the Hadiths, and most importantly, of Sharia law. Lawyers, social workers, mullahs, politicians, muftis, and young university graduates. They all share an interest in ijtihad, the independent interpretation and debate of Islamic law. Ijtihad was the basis for early Islam that spread and created a golden age while Europe was mired in the repressive rules and superstitions of the Dark Ages. It is a concept that has reemerged in Islamic universities as an answer to the brand of extremism evident in the ideology of groups like Al Qaeda.
Below are links to the story of these Afghan men, their female partners in the fight for justice, and the religious basis for their actions. I will continue to update with further posts regarding different visits and interviews from my trip, as well as personal experiences.
In the so-called “war on terror” we face many enemies, but the most sinister may be our own lack of information. The media picks and chooses that which it will report, leaving us with an incomplete picture as we are asked to finance and support our military prowess. Hopefully, these stories will help to fill the gap.
- Afghan Women Find a Partner in Justice - Tikkun Magazine - September/October 2008 [PDF version]
The little-known Afghan men who risk their lives working for women’s rights.
A 5-point plan on how to succeed in Afghanistan without sending more U.S. troops.
- Using the Tools Available
Three Afghans working in Kabul have different ways of using Islam in reconstruction.
- Afghans, Lawyers, and the Wealth of Knowledge
An Afghan lawyer is thwarting western-style aid and teaching others in the legal system the values and equality that Afghanistan needs to develop.
A morning suicide bombing around the corner doesn’t stop these women and their male partners in development from holding a ceremony to mark the Elimination of Violence Against Women Day.
A deadly suicide bomb attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul raises questions about Pakistan’s involvement and the billions in aid that the United States funnels to a failing state.
Ex-pat Afghans are returning to their war-torn country to exploit what little profit can be made at the expense of the people.
Americans abroad refuse to adhere to cultural norms and make themselves targets for terrorism.
Negotiating to buy a one-of-a-kind Afghan Carpet begins with lunch, ends with a memorable experience.
Walking the streets of Kabul as a white American places you squarely in the middle of the so-called “war on terror.”
When you are in Kabul, suicide bombings have a whole new meaning.
Tags: Uncategorized, terrorism, media, men, women's rightsA trip to the infamous Panjsher Valley paints a beautiful picture of a country and its people.