Fazal Ahmad Manawi, the former Minister of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, has warned against the normalization of violent and degrading treatment of women and girls, following the recent re-arrest of a number of women by the Taliban in Herat.
In a post on X, Mr. Manawi said that the repetition of such abuses and society’s growing acceptance of them could lead to a dangerous situation. He said that if people witness the arrest, humiliation, and mistreatment of women and girls every day and gradually become silent in the face of such actions, the normalization of injustice itself could become one of the most serious consequences of the situation.
He stressed that people should not allow the repeated occurrence of such incidents to silence voices of protest within society. Mr. Manawi called on citizens to respond to injustice to the extent they are able and not allow conduct that violates human dignity to become normalized in society.
The former justice minister said that everyone can play a role in whatever way is within their capacity from writing and speaking about such incidents to protesting and helping bring the voices of those affected to the attention of the international community.
Mr. Manawi also stated that arresting and humiliating women and girls in the name of religion and Sharia is neither religious nor Islamic, but rather an act of oppression, and that changing the label does not change the nature of the conduct.
He described indifference in the face of injustice as unacceptable and added that defending the dignity of women and girls should not be tied to ethnicity, religion, language, region, political affiliation, or political differences. Rather, he said, it is a matter of respect for human dignity and the honor of families.
In conclusion, Mr. Manawi emphasized that Afghan women and girls should not feel that they are alone while facing pressure and restrictions. He urged people to support them through whatever means and channels are available to them and to bring the ongoing situation in Afghanistan to the attention of the international public.
Writer:Roya Stanikzai
