Don’t Forget the Plight of Women in Afghanistan

T wo years ago, the Biden administration conducted a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, as the Taliban took over control of Kabul. There was grave concern that the Taliban’s swift takeover would mean an abysmal future for the most vulnerable in Afghanistan: women and girls.

At the time, a Taliban spokesperson assured the world that “the group would honor women’s rights and an independent media, but within the ‘frameworks’ of Islamic law.” He went on to promise that “there will be no violence against women” and that “women would be allowed to work and study.”

Sadly, the past two years have told a much different story about how the Taliban has systematically obliterated the rights of women and girls.

For many Afghan girls and young women, they had only known a life free of harsh restrictions until recently. When the U.S. liberated Afghanistan in 2001, women began to enjoy newfound freedoms. But since the Taliban takeover, women and girls have been denied the right to most areas of public life and work.

Women are banned from parks, gyms, university education, working at nongovernmental groups, and working at the United Nations. Girls are prohibited from attending school beyond sixth grade. TV stations were instructed to cease programs with female actions. And women’s basic freedom of movement is severely constructed, with limits on traveling long distances without a male chaperone. Additionally, there have been reports of physical violence against women and an increase in girls being forced to become child brides.

Scripture declares that every single human is created in God’s own image and has innate dignity, worth, and value. (Genesis 1:26-27) This fundamental reality about humanity is what motivates Christians to fight against injustices around the world — caring for vulnerable children and families, alleviating poverty and food insecurity, and fighting for more just institutions and systems.

Christians ought to be the ones most robustly proclaiming God’s care and design for every single person, especially those that society tries to devalue: the weak, the vulnerable, the elderly, those with disabilities, and those who look different than us. We are commanded to “open our mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute” and to “defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8‒9)

Not only is Afghanistan a dangerous place to be a woman but it’s also an extraordinarily dangerous place for Christians. According to Open Doors’ annual World Watch List, Afghanistan falls within the top ten most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. We must remember our brothers and sisters facing persecution around the world in both word and deed.

For years leading up to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, female Afghan soldiers were trained by and served alongside the U.S. military. In 2021, Cindy McCain awarded the Afghan Female Tactical Platoon with the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service. These courageous women were recognized for “their brave fight for freedom, dignity, and democracy.” Some of these fearless fighters were evacuated to safety, alongside U.S. citizens and Afghan allies. In the weeks that followed, tens of thousands of Afghans were paroled into the United States after being processed and vetted in third-country locations.

One of the significant ways the U.S. Congress can act is by swiftly passing the Afghan Adjustment Act. This bipartisan legislation would provide a safe haven for Afghans paroled into the U.S., by allowing them to apply for permanent legal status, treating them in similar ways to how those formally admitted as refugees are treated under U.S. law.

The bill acknowledges the plight of Afghan nationals who faced an urgent threat of persecution under the Taliban, including many who have worked tirelessly alongside the United States military, diplomatic missions, and non-governmental organizations, risking their lives to support the cause of peace and stability.

These individuals have been our allies and partners in promoting shared values such as freedom, justice, and human dignity, and we are grateful that they have found refuge in the United States — but they still have only temporary legal protections in the U.S. that bear expiration dates.

America has a long history of welcoming those fleeing violence and persecution, and our lawmakers must swiftly pass this important legislation. The plight of women and girls in Afghanistan is a pressing issue that demands attention from Christians. We must continue to stand up for justice and take action through support, advocacy, and prayer.