My part of our presentation

As Prof. Joana has asked us to post our individual part of the presentation here goes mine:

(I did the introduction part)

Our theme is the situation of women in Afghanistan, mainly concerning them in terms of religion, rights, education and health care.

The present degrading situation was something that the taliban brought. Before that, women were able to have a job, including in universities as academic professors and doctors. This means that women's position in Afghan society was not always as inferior as it is today (or was during the taliban regime).

There are some who argue that Islam has nothing to do with women's inferiority to men or to the way they are treated in those fundamentalist islamic regimes. Quite on the contrary. The Koran has many passages stressing the equality between men and women, and that women should be treated fairly. This following quote stresses equality in terms of spirituality:

"If any do deeds of righteousness-be they male or female and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them." (Sura 4, verse 124 of the Qu'ran)

" Seeking knowledge is a duty of every Muslim, man or woman." (Ayisha Lemu 1978: 25).

This excerpt proves that education is considered fundamental to women also, contrary to what the Taliban imposed.

Islamic Law also forbids the marriage of a woman by force. And although traditionally the parents' opinion is highly important, the last word is always from the man and woman to be married.

There are also some parts more controversial and therefore have led to different interpretations, often fundamentalist ones:

"And women shall have rights similar to rights against them, according to what is equitable. But men have a degree (of advantage) over them. And Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise." (Sura 2 Verse 228 of the Qur'an)


However the point the author makes is that the regime that the Taliban imposed in Afghanistan has nothing to do with the Qu'ran; what they did was to revive some pre-islamic traditions where women were indeed regarded as inferior and had many restrictions.

And so with this I pass the word to my colleague who's going to talk about woman's rights in Afghanistan.