Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Taliban talks terrify Afghan women

A real war on women is brewing in Afghanistan. - Ashish Kumar Sen/The Washington Times

Women there are worried that the freedoms they have won since U.S. forces toppled the brutal Taliban regime 10 years ago will be squandered if the Islamic hard-liners return to power through a U.S.-led peace process.

“Dark days are in Afghanistan’s future,” said Manizha Naderi, who heads the civil rights group Women for Afghan Women.

U.S. and Afghan officials and the Taliban have been engaged for several months in an effort to initiate peace talks that could lead to the militants playing a role in government.

“If there are negotiations with the Taliban, women’s rights will be the first to go, and women will be forced to stay at home all over again,” Ms. Naderi said in a phone interview from Kabul.