Taliban detains women for begging, reports brutal abuses

In Afghanistan, following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, many women found themselves in dire economic conditions due to the work ban imposed by the new regime. Consequently, as they struggled to provide for their families, numerous women resorted to begging on the streets of Kabul. In May 2022, the Taliban enacted stringent anti-begging laws targeting 'healthy individuals' whom authorities believed should not need to beg if they had enough resources for at least one day’s food. Sadly, these laws have led to the mass arrest of women and even children as they sought to survive in poverty-stricken conditions. Zahra, a 32-year-old mother of three, speaks of her harrowing experience after being arrested under these new laws. She had lost her husband, previously a member of the national army, and moved to Kabul, only to face multiple risks as she attempted to feed her children. During her imprisonment, Zahra recounted horrific experiences, including sexual assault, with no avenue to seek justice. She felt completely powerless and fearful of further repercussions for speaking out about her traumatic ordeal. Another woman, Parwana, found herself in a similar situation. She was arrested while begging for food with her young daughter after being abandoned by her husband. Like many others, she faced not only the threat of violence but also verbal abuse while in detention. Reports reveal that many detainees shared similar accounts of brutality, where they witnessed severe abuses including the rape of women and the mistreatment of children in custody. The newly established laws emphasize that if a beggar dies in custody, the local authorities will manage the burial, signifying a cold, bureaucratic approach to human life that has emerged under the Taliban. Despite being classified as destitute, many women who were released reported receiving no financial support after their ordeal. As fear permeates their lives, former detainees remain apprehensive about returning to begging, with some relying on precarious neighborly support for survival. The situation for these women paints a grim picture of the Taliban's policies and the accompanying human rights violations, highlighting the overall systemic oppression and lack of safety that women face in Afghanistan today.