KABUL: A video that went viral on social media shows groups of Afghan women begging outside the gates of a mosque, prompting users to describe the situation as “horrific” and criticize the lack of support from men and international organizations. Reports indicate that under Taliban rule, women in Afghanistan are barred from education and employment, leaving many forced to beg in streets and around religious sites. Thousands of widows and women without economic support live in extreme poverty and hunger, often supporting multiple family members in a single household. Human rights experts and activists warn that depriving women of education and work while compelling them to beg is not only a violation of human rights but also undermines half of society and the country’s future. They argue that a society that attacks educated, independent women while remaining indifferent to the plight of poor and needy women violates the principles of justice. The current situation recalls earlier years of severe restrictions on women in Afghanistan, during which decades of progress in education and independent participation were erased. Activists emphasize that no society can advance without the full participation of women.
