Afghanistan: Why Are the Taliban So Harsh Upon Women?
By Huang Na [黄娜] (20.7.2023)
Translated By Adrian Chan-Wyles PhD
Within the pre-modern economic and social environment - women are always considered to have little economic role. Their combat effectiveness in front-line physical combat - or their physical strength in agricultural and nomadic production - is usually not as good as that of adult men. Women – being seen as the passive ‘property’ of men - are only viewed as ‘valuable’ due to their reproductive function! This attitude is defined as the negative ‘objectification’ of women.
A few days ago - at the Taliban's first Press Conference - a Taliban spokesman reiterated that the current Taliban intends to be "Very different from 20 years ago."
When asked specifically about Women’s Rights, (a subject that has attracted much attention), the spokesperson responded - "Women's rights will be respected through the framework of Islamic law", and then added - "Women will live in accordance with Islamic law - and we will Be happy - and they will be happy too."
A few days ago - at the Taliban's first Press Conference - a Taliban spokesman reiterated that the current Taliban intends to be "Very different from 20 years ago."
When asked specifically about Women’s Rights, (a subject that has attracted much attention), the spokesperson responded - "Women's rights will be respected through the framework of Islamic law", and then added - "Women will live in accordance with Islamic law - and we will Be happy - and they will be happy too."
After all, in Islam, there are so many factions - and when different sects propagate their own opinions - they often express unique teaching laws and related guidelines. As long as the elders nod their heads – these factions can ‘define’ and ‘explain’ whatever teachings they want.
The body of historical ‘Islamic law’ followed by all factions is derived from the medieval ‘Sharia Code’.
This code was developed in the Middle Ages more than a thousand years ago and is expansive in nature. In addition to religious regulations, it also covers various other aspects - such as civil law and criminal law. In terms of operation - religious elders also serve as judges and scholars - making decisions in accordance with the code.
The body of historical ‘Islamic law’ followed by all factions is derived from the medieval ‘Sharia Code’.
This code was developed in the Middle Ages more than a thousand years ago and is expansive in nature. In addition to religious regulations, it also covers various other aspects - such as civil law and criminal law. In terms of operation - religious elders also serve as judges and scholars - making decisions in accordance with the code.
‘Sharia Code’, however, possesses a considerable degree of interpretation as it stipulates that if the ‘motivation’ behind the behaviour is consistent with the meaning of the ‘hadith’ (sayings associated with Muhammed – PBUH) – then all subsequent acts (including honour killings, the buying and selling of women and the use of tribal lynchings against women) - are considered judicially ‘innocent’, ‘acceptable’ and ‘correct’.
What is more, even during 2021, the realities found within modern society are all explained through the content of these medieval Islamic scriptures. With this in mind, then how is the statement “Women's rights will be respected under the framework of Islamic law" to be interpreted? On the surface this statement seems ‘insincere’.
There is also this sentence "They will live in accordance with Islamic law, we will be happy, and they will be happy too" which has to be contended with. It appears to be a thoughtless ‘objectification’ of women. What women think is irrelevant as ‘men’ have decided before-hand what will be good for them. Of course, this is reminiscent of the Taliban's response to women's empowerment the last time this faction came to power:
In 1999, in the face of international doubts about Women’s Rights in Afghanistan, a Representative of the Taliban said proudly - “The rights we give women are not given to them by any other country. What we give women are the Rights granted by the only True God (Allah) and his Messenger (Muhammed PBUH)! This extensive freedom allows women to stay at home and cover their entire bodies and faces – such is this uplifting religious guidance. Women already feel very lucky!”
In this way, women in Afghanistan are instructed to ‘feel lucky’ or remain ‘very happy’! They will face the consequences if any deviation is detected.
What is more, even during 2021, the realities found within modern society are all explained through the content of these medieval Islamic scriptures. With this in mind, then how is the statement “Women's rights will be respected under the framework of Islamic law" to be interpreted? On the surface this statement seems ‘insincere’.
There is also this sentence "They will live in accordance with Islamic law, we will be happy, and they will be happy too" which has to be contended with. It appears to be a thoughtless ‘objectification’ of women. What women think is irrelevant as ‘men’ have decided before-hand what will be good for them. Of course, this is reminiscent of the Taliban's response to women's empowerment the last time this faction came to power:
In 1999, in the face of international doubts about Women’s Rights in Afghanistan, a Representative of the Taliban said proudly - “The rights we give women are not given to them by any other country. What we give women are the Rights granted by the only True God (Allah) and his Messenger (Muhammed PBUH)! This extensive freedom allows women to stay at home and cover their entire bodies and faces – such is this uplifting religious guidance. Women already feel very lucky!”
In this way, women in Afghanistan are instructed to ‘feel lucky’ or remain ‘very happy’! They will face the consequences if any deviation is detected.
In fact, whether it is Western civilization or Eastern civilization - women were once regarded as accessories of men in the stage of underdeveloped productive forces. Discrimination and oppression of women are not unique to a certain cultural circle. Therefore, strict restrictions on women cannot be directly equated with Islam. Typically, for example, in some areas of India today, the status of women is often not as good as that of many Islamic countries.
For more than a century, however, most Eastern and Western countries have carried out comprehensive reforms or earth-shaking Revolutions. In addition, with the development of industrialization, Women's Rights have been improved, and gender equality has long become the consensus of all citizens. For example, since the Age of Discovery, Western civilization has plundered the wealth of the world through colonialism, accumulated a lot of wealth, and experienced several Industrial Revolutions, successfully realizing industrialization and modernization. Then, the middle class and the proletariat developed a left-wing movement - successfully passed various (relevant) reform - and realized equal rights.
Many countries in the East, however, through arduous Revolutionary struggles and land reforms, eliminated reactionary ruling groups, deprived the landlord class and the bourgeoisie of their wealth, took the land and other means of production back into the State control, and redistributed wealth and benefits. Such countries then carried-out industrialization through the power of the State - and used this industrialised power to increase Women’s Right in the area of economic activity - successfully realising gender equality.
Obviously, whether it is the East or the West - the promotion of industrialization is the most important economic basis for women to obtain equal rights. In contrast, humanity in the past pursued an agricultural society for a very long time. This system privileged men and granted extensive advantages stemming from physical strength. This reality allowed men to always hold absolute resources and become the masters of society - whereas industrial society, physical strength is no longer the only criterion for determining strength and weakness. Indeed, in some industries, women have obvious advantages over men. It can be said that industrialization and modernization not only promoted the production of wealth, but also a sharp weapon used to break the feudal shackles.
Many countries in the East, however, through arduous Revolutionary struggles and land reforms, eliminated reactionary ruling groups, deprived the landlord class and the bourgeoisie of their wealth, took the land and other means of production back into the State control, and redistributed wealth and benefits. Such countries then carried-out industrialization through the power of the State - and used this industrialised power to increase Women’s Right in the area of economic activity - successfully realising gender equality.
Obviously, whether it is the East or the West - the promotion of industrialization is the most important economic basis for women to obtain equal rights. In contrast, humanity in the past pursued an agricultural society for a very long time. This system privileged men and granted extensive advantages stemming from physical strength. This reality allowed men to always hold absolute resources and become the masters of society - whereas industrial society, physical strength is no longer the only criterion for determining strength and weakness. Indeed, in some industries, women have obvious advantages over men. It can be said that industrialization and modernization not only promoted the production of wealth, but also a sharp weapon used to break the feudal shackles.
Much of Afghanistan has remained pre-modern - a rugged and barren land that has failed to develop a robust agricultural and industrial civilization or a centralized political system with strong executive capabilities.
The Pashtun, accounting for about 44% of the population, is the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, followed by the Tajik, accounting for 30% of the population. There are many ethnic groups and tribes that comprise the core. For a long time, various tribal disputes and melees have always been part of the social structure of Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, tribes have always been the core source of identity for the grassroots. In their eyes - there are only hadith – which are put into practice by the tribes and elders. As a consequence, this population does not know what a ‘country’ is and has no concept of such a structure. Therefore, regardless as to whether they are the Soviets or the Americans - no matter whether they claim to represent civilization or modernization – such entities inevitably become involved in the melee of tribal warlords.
As a result, religious forces and warlord forces (in various places) operate independently. No matter how the external ‘civilized’ forces exert influence - they can only control big cities - and it is difficult to extend this control deeper into the hinterland and influence grassroots society. During the period of King Zahir or the Socialist-era (including Soviet intervention) - the fashionable girls on the streets of Kabul and the young pioneers of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan wearing red scarves and raising the national flag - actually represented only a small (albeit ‘progressive’) number of urban groups at that time. By far the greater population lived in remote villages and towns that were not much different from those that existed hundreds of years ago.
It is very telling that whether it is the ‘Red Prince’ Daoud, the Afghan ‘People's Democratic Party’ government (supported by the Soviet Union), or the Americans who came in, all the social and land reform movements that were carry-out through such a great effort (of course, there is no land reforms carried-out by the United States) all failed. For example, in order to publicize policies the Daoud government followed the example of the Soviet Union and organized special teams to go to the countryside to do work - encouraging people to take the initiative in abolishing old systems related to Islamic law - and engage in law-abiding activities. This approach advised the villagers that certain acts considered innocent according to the old religious customs enshrined ‘Sharia Code’ - were now actually illegal.
As a result, under the instigation of religious figures and tribal elders, villagers in a certain place besieged special teams, kidnapped the female cadres in the group (who were wearing trousers and had their faces ‘uncovered’) and buried them alive. The reason given was that these females a) dared to speak publicly in front of men without b) wearing a burqa – as this violated the ‘Sharia Code’ the ancient ‘punishment’ was enacted in accordance with the provisions of the Code! Obviously, in this land, the propaganda of the civilized government and the cognition of the grassroots people always seemed to be in two parallel lines. As the chicken and the duck cannot talk to one another - there can be no intersection. In addition, the ethnic composition of these areas was often complex - more like a ‘region’ composed of a large number of tribes, rather than a complete and unified (modern) nation-state.
The Pashtun, accounting for about 44% of the population, is the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, followed by the Tajik, accounting for 30% of the population. There are many ethnic groups and tribes that comprise the core. For a long time, various tribal disputes and melees have always been part of the social structure of Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, tribes have always been the core source of identity for the grassroots. In their eyes - there are only hadith – which are put into practice by the tribes and elders. As a consequence, this population does not know what a ‘country’ is and has no concept of such a structure. Therefore, regardless as to whether they are the Soviets or the Americans - no matter whether they claim to represent civilization or modernization – such entities inevitably become involved in the melee of tribal warlords.
As a result, religious forces and warlord forces (in various places) operate independently. No matter how the external ‘civilized’ forces exert influence - they can only control big cities - and it is difficult to extend this control deeper into the hinterland and influence grassroots society. During the period of King Zahir or the Socialist-era (including Soviet intervention) - the fashionable girls on the streets of Kabul and the young pioneers of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan wearing red scarves and raising the national flag - actually represented only a small (albeit ‘progressive’) number of urban groups at that time. By far the greater population lived in remote villages and towns that were not much different from those that existed hundreds of years ago.
It is very telling that whether it is the ‘Red Prince’ Daoud, the Afghan ‘People's Democratic Party’ government (supported by the Soviet Union), or the Americans who came in, all the social and land reform movements that were carry-out through such a great effort (of course, there is no land reforms carried-out by the United States) all failed. For example, in order to publicize policies the Daoud government followed the example of the Soviet Union and organized special teams to go to the countryside to do work - encouraging people to take the initiative in abolishing old systems related to Islamic law - and engage in law-abiding activities. This approach advised the villagers that certain acts considered innocent according to the old religious customs enshrined ‘Sharia Code’ - were now actually illegal.
As a result, under the instigation of religious figures and tribal elders, villagers in a certain place besieged special teams, kidnapped the female cadres in the group (who were wearing trousers and had their faces ‘uncovered’) and buried them alive. The reason given was that these females a) dared to speak publicly in front of men without b) wearing a burqa – as this violated the ‘Sharia Code’ the ancient ‘punishment’ was enacted in accordance with the provisions of the Code! Obviously, in this land, the propaganda of the civilized government and the cognition of the grassroots people always seemed to be in two parallel lines. As the chicken and the duck cannot talk to one another - there can be no intersection. In addition, the ethnic composition of these areas was often complex - more like a ‘region’ composed of a large number of tribes, rather than a complete and unified (modern) nation-state.
This has also led to the fact that no matter how committed significant ‘modern’ countries work to cultivate the Afghan people - they can only produce an isolated ‘Mayor of Kabul’ – and not any progressive Afghan Administration that possesses actual governance capabilities (beyond the city boundaries). Any established (progressive) Afghan Central Government - whether created by the Americans or the Soviets – has ended-up being repeatedly harassed and attacked by guerrilla forces entrenched in the mountains. This demonstrates that no long term or substantial ‘reform’ can be generated and sustained once the external (military) umbrella is withdrawn. When this happens - these ‘modern’ governments are washed away by concerted tribal (military) action.
Some people will ask - what choice do the Afghan people have? In reality the Afghan people possess little genuine opportunity to make a decisive choice. As far as the Taliban is concerned - it is a collection of conservative forces in a broad sense - representing the interests of Pashtun national warlords, conservative mullahs and tribal leaders. As mentioned earlier (at the grassroots level) - tribal leaders and religious elders (as the highest political entity accessible to Afghan farmers) - have monopolized the right to speak in their own territory. These people control the rural areas of Afghanistan - ‘coercing’ the villagers to ‘agree’ according to their wishes. The villagers have no chance to disagree - because the two big bosses in front have already chosen for them. Opposite the Taliban is the ‘official’ government of Afghanistan. This is a combination of compradors, warlords and urban class interest groups ‘coerced’ by the warlords (this ‘official’ government is nothing more than a pseudo-tribe that exists to be manipulated by the highly ‘conservative’ and ‘surrounding’ forces). It can be said that neither of the two above ‘choices’ truly represents the will of the Afghan people.
Originally, the level of urbanization in Afghanistan was very low. Most of the citizens lived under the control of tribal leaders and were deeply influenced by religion. Therefore, the Taliban had a strong culture and history to appropriate and manipulate. A typical situation often involved a city (protected by a government army bolstered by foreign aid) disintegrating into internecine fighting. When the protection of foreign aid was suddenly withdrawn – such cities became vulnerable to external attack. When over-run by reactionary tribal groups manipulated by the US – the leaders and female cadres were brutally put to death (usually as a public spectacle). This happens because Afghanistan has not been able to move beyond ‘feudalism’ as every attempt has been defeated by the forces of ultra-conservatism and Islamo-fascism – a situation that suits the current foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, as the development of democracy, equality and Women's Liberation are the direct result of the building of industry in the cities – these progressive and modern changes are not allowed to develop, manifest and/or stabilise in the public domain.
Originally, the level of urbanization in Afghanistan was very low. Most of the citizens lived under the control of tribal leaders and were deeply influenced by religion. Therefore, the Taliban had a strong culture and history to appropriate and manipulate. A typical situation often involved a city (protected by a government army bolstered by foreign aid) disintegrating into internecine fighting. When the protection of foreign aid was suddenly withdrawn – such cities became vulnerable to external attack. When over-run by reactionary tribal groups manipulated by the US – the leaders and female cadres were brutally put to death (usually as a public spectacle). This happens because Afghanistan has not been able to move beyond ‘feudalism’ as every attempt has been defeated by the forces of ultra-conservatism and Islamo-fascism – a situation that suits the current foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, as the development of democracy, equality and Women's Liberation are the direct result of the building of industry in the cities – these progressive and modern changes are not allowed to develop, manifest and/or stabilise in the public domain.
Rooted in a backward economic foundation, Afghan tribal leaders and religious mullahs are powerful and resist giving-up their authority and social status. Neither the Shah of Afghanistan, the Red Prince, the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, or the Soviets, or the U.S. Army could destroy this religious, cultural and social formation - no matter how much military and legal pressure was brought to bear – as these people are deeply involved in the entire grassroots control of Afghanistan and can marshal tens of thousands of men to form a highly flexible military resistance to any challenge to their authority.
In Afghanistan, where agriculture is declining and there is almost no decent industrial base, the ‘religious system’ (and tribal cognition) are far more effective at the grassroots level than the ‘modern values’ based system premised upon a certain economic foundation and educational level. The mountain people have been illiterate for generations, are starving and have never been to school or seen a factory in their lives! If they are told that their girls should go to school, go to work and even vote for these ‘modern values’ - they will think this to be a crazy idea! For example, in a filmed news clip, a Western female reporter interviewed several Taliban militants. When asked, "Would you accept female politicians voted in under democratic rule?", the interviewees couldn't help laughing out loud - and then immediately asked to turn off the camera—because, according to their religious principles, laughing in public is forbidden! Obviously, their contemptuous laughter was telling the female reporter - are you crazy if you ask this question...
In this pre-modern economic and social environment, women are always considered to have little economic value. Their combat effectiveness in front-line combat, or their physical strength in agricultural and nomadic production is usually not as good as that of adult men. Women, as the ‘property’ of men - are valued most only for their reproductive value. This primitive male attitude assumes women to be a one-dimensional ‘object’ of little functional value. In short, for women to be respected and treated equally – there must be sustained and persistent (industrialised) economic development. Take China as an example. In the past, there were many tribal villages in the frontier regions that were dragged from existence in a primitive society into a Socialist society after Revolution had successfully swept the nation. If there is no large-scale economic construction and industrial development that provides infrastructure and educational progress – then those tribes and villages would still be stuck in a backward (feudal) existence where respect for women would involve a girl getting married when she firsts menstruates – to a marry a man 20-30 years her senior - in a family where one man possesses many wives! The point of this ‘feudal’ system is for the men to use the unresisting bodies of women as baby-making machines – producing as many children as possible.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2023.
©opyright: Adrian Chan-Wyles (ShiDaDao) 2023.
Original title: "Why is the Taliban so harsh on women?" (塔利班为何对女性如此严苛?)
Chinese Language Article: https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_14715097
塔利班为何对女性如此严苛?
哲学园哲学园官方澎湃号
2021-30-09
在前现代化的经济社会环境中,女性总被认为没有太大的经济作用,她们在一线肉身搏杀的战斗力,或者从事农业、游牧业生产的体力,通常都比不上成年男性,女人作为男人的“财产”,最被看重的,只有生育价值——这就是对女性的“物化”。
塔利班对女性如此严苛
源于落后生产力对女性的物化
作者:黄娜
几天前,塔利班的首场记者会上,塔利班发言人再次重申,现在的塔利班与20年前,已经 “大不相同
在被问及广受关注的女性权力时,发言人回应——“将在伊斯兰教法框架下尊重女性的权利”,随后,又补充了一句——“她们会按照伊斯兰教法生活,我们会很高兴,她们也会很高兴”。
很显然,上述回答,非常具有不确定性。
毕竟,在伊斯兰教中,派系多如牛毛,不同教派在传播教义时,又衍生出了各自独特的教法和相关准则,只要长老们点头,几乎想怎么解释,就能怎么解释。
而所有派系遵从的“伊斯兰教法”的母体,则是源于中世纪的“沙里阿特法典”。
此法典放到一千多年前的中世纪,确实有着明显的先进性,除了宗教相关的规定,同时涵盖了民法、刑法等各个方面。在操作上,宗教长老兼任法官和学者,按照法典进行决断。
可是,另一方面,此法典又规定,只要动因符合“圣训”,诸如荣誉谋杀、买卖妇女、动用部族私刑这类的行为,都是无罪的。
更何况,都2021年了,还拿着中世纪的经书解释现代化社会,怎么看,这个“将在伊斯兰教法框架下尊重女性的权利”,也有些缺乏诚意。
还有这句,“她们会按照伊斯兰教法生活,我们会很高兴,她们也会很高兴”,细品品,颇有些将女性“物化”的感觉——女性们满意不满意,男人们,早就替她们决定了。
甚至这不得不让人联想起上次塔利班掌权时对女性权力方面做出的回应:
1999年,面对国际方面对阿富汗妇女权利的质疑,塔利班代表曾骄傲的说——“我们给予妇女的权利没有任何一个其他国家能给得了她们。我们赋予妇女的,是真神和他的使者所指示的权利,即待在家里,遮蔽身体和面容,以获取宗教的指引。她们已经感到非常幸运了。”
就这样,阿富汗的女性们,被安排“感到幸运”或者“很高兴”....
实际上,不管是西方文明,还是东方文明,在生产力不发达的阶段,女性都曾被当作男性的附属品,歧视、压迫女性并非某个文化圈独有的现象。因而,对女性的严苛限制,并不能直接跟伊斯兰教画上等号。
典型的,比如当今印度的一些地区,女性的地位往往还比不上很多伊斯兰国家。
在印度,“祝你生个女儿”向来被认作是人间最恶毒的诅咒
不过,近一个多世纪以来,大多数东西方国家都进行了全面的改革,或者翻天覆地的革命,再加上,随着工业化的发展,女性的权利都得到提升,性别平等早就成为了全体国民的共识。
比如,自大航海时代起,西方文明通过殖民主义薅了全世界的羊毛,积累了大量财富,再经历几次工业革命,成功的实现了工业化和现代化。
而后,中产阶级和无产阶级掀起左翼运动,顺利通过改革的形式,实现了平权。
而东方许多多国则通艰苦的革命斗争,再经过土改,消灭了反动统治集团,剥夺地主阶级、资产阶级的财富,将土地等生产资料收回国有,进行了利益再分配,而后以国家之力大搞工业化,运用工业化的力量,从经济上提高妇女的话语权,也顺利实现了性别平等。
20世纪30年代,苏联在中亚地区的妇女解放宣传画
显然,无论是东方还是西方,推行工业化建设,都是女性获得平等权利的最重要的经济基础。
相比之下,在漫长的农业社会中,体力方面占了明显优势的男性一直掌握着绝对资源,成了社会的主宰;而到了工业社会,体力不再属于决定强弱势的唯一标准,甚至在有些行业,女性相对男性,还掌握了明显的优势。
可以说,工业化和现代化,不仅促进了财富的生产,更是一种用来打破封建枷锁的利器。
那么,再回过头来看阿富汗。
阿富汗的大部分地区一直处于前现代状态,在崎岖又贫瘠的土地上,一直未能发育出健全的农业和工业文明,以及具有强大执行能力的中央集权政治体系。
占人口44%左右的普什图族是阿富汗第一大民族,占人口30%的塔吉克族紧随其后,各民族以部落为核心山头林立。
长期以来,各部族的大小纷争和混战,一直是阿富汗社会结构的一部分。
在阿富汗,部族向来属于基层群众核心身份认同来源,在他们眼中,只有圣训、部落、长老,而不知国家为何物。
所以我们看到,无论是苏联人或者美国人,他们再自诩为文明或者现代化的代表,最终也都无法避免地卷入到了部族军阀混战之中。
这导致,各地宗教势力、军阀势力各自为政,无论外部的“文明”势力如何施加影响,他们最终也只能控制大城市,很难深入基层社会影响和感染到人民群众。
即便是查希尔国王时期或者苏联控制时代,我们看到的那些喀布尔街头的时髦女郎、戴着红领巾升国旗的阿富汗民主共和国少先队员,其实仅代表着当年极少数的一小部分城市群体——数量庞大的人口生活在与几百年前并没有太大区别的边远村镇,连饱饭都吃不上,多数是文盲半文盲,从小被教育真主安拉最大,经书和部落的毛拉能解释一切....
很说明问题的就是,无论是“红色亲王”达乌德、还是后来苏联扶植的阿富汗人民民主党政府还有杀进来的美国人,他们费了大劲搞的各种“移风易俗”的社会改造和土改运动(当然美国没有土改),最终无不打了水漂。
比如,有一次,为了宣传政策,达乌德政府效仿苏联,组织专门团队下乡去做工作,鼓励人们主动废除伊斯兰教法等旧制度,并且大搞普法活动,告诉村民们——那些按宗教老习俗“沙里阿特法典”认为无罪的行为,其实都是违法犯的。
结果,某地村民们在宗教人士和部落长老的煽动下,竟然自发围攻了宣传小组,并将团队中的女干部打晕后活埋。理由是,她竟然胆敢在男人面前公开讲话,并且没有穿罩袍——这违反了“沙里阿特法典”,对她的“处刑”,就是遵照了法典的规定!
很明显,在这片土地上,文明政府的宣传和基层民众的认知,似乎永远是两条平行的线路,鸡同鸭讲一般,找不到交汇点。
加之,此地民族成分复杂,更像是一个由大量部族所组成的“地区”,而非一个完整统一的现代民族国家。
曾经的阿富汗妇女干部
这也就导致了,无论大国如何下功夫培植,最后都只能搞出“喀布尔市长”,而无法真正打造出一个有实际执政能力的阿富汗政府。
无论是美国人还是苏联人,他们扶植的阿富汗中央政府,总是反复被盘踞深山的游击势力骚扰和打击,不但无法完成真正的“改造”,甚至一旦外部的保护伞撤走,自身都难保。
20世纪80年代,阿富汗民主共和国宣传海报《劳动人民大团结建设社会主义》
那么有人会说,阿富汗人们的选择呢?
很遗憾,阿富汗人民,很难有做出选择的机会和能力。
就塔利班而言,它是一个广义上的保守势力集合,代表的是普什图民族军阀,保守派毛拉以及部族头目三者的利益 。
正如前面说的那样,在基层,部族头目和宗教长老作为阿富汗农民所能够接触到的最高政治实体,垄断了自己地盘的话语权。
这些人控制着阿富汗农村,“裹挟”着村民按他们的意思去“同意”,村民们没有任何可选的机会~因为,前面的两个大佬,已经替他们选择了。
与塔利班相对的是阿富汗的政府,它是一个买办、军阀以及受军阀“裹挟”的城市阶层利益集团的组合。
可以说,这两者谁没有真正代表阿富汗人民的意愿。
原本阿富汗城市化水平就低,大部分国民都生活在部族头目的控制下,受宗教影响很深,因而塔利班的后方很强大。所以,那个政府军代表的城市集团在不断内讧,并突然失去外部势力保护后,显得非常不堪一击。
很明显,阿富汗连去封建化都没完成,后面这些民主、平等和妇女解放相关的议题,都显得太奢侈了。
1980年代,苏联特色的阿富汗民主共和国宣传海报——打碎反动宗教势力
根植于落后的经济基础的阿富汗部族首领、宗教毛拉,势力强大,坚持不同意放弃权利。无论是阿富汗国王、红色亲王、阿富汗人民民主党、还是苏联人、美军不管作何尝试,均无法消灭他们。
而正是这些人,深刻控制着整个阿富汗基层。
1970年代,罩袍和洋装并行的喀布尔大街
在农业凋敝,几乎没有像样工业基础的阿富汗,“宗教体系”和部族认知,远比建立在一定经济基础和教育水平基础上的“现代价值观”更具有基层战斗力。
面对那些世代文盲,连饱饭都吃不上,一辈子没进过学校、没见过工厂的山民,你跟他们说要让你们的女孩去上学、去工作,甚至去选举这些“现代价值观”,他们会觉得你在发疯。
比如,之前有段视频,一位西方女记者采访几名塔利班武装人员,当问及是“否能接受民主统治下投票产生的女性政治家?”的时候,受访的几人竟然忍不住全部“噗嗤”笑出了声,然后马上要求关闭镜头——因为,按照他们的宗教原则,公开场合是禁止大笑的。
很显然,他们轻蔑的笑声,就是在告诉女记者,你这么问,是不是在发疯....
采访现场情形
在这种前现代化的经济社会环境中,女性总被认为没有太大的经济作用,她们在一线肉身搏杀的战斗力,或者从事农业、游牧业生产的体力,通常都比不上成年男性,女人作为男人的“财产”,最被看重的,只有生育价值——这就是对女性的“物化”。
总之,女性真正实现被尊重和平等相待,是必须建立在经济发展的基础上的。就拿当咱们中国来说,想当年,有多少边疆的部落寨子都是在彻底革命后,被一把从原始社会拉进社会主义社会的。如果没有大规模的经济建设、工业发展,没有疯狂基建和教育的进步,那些部落和寨子,仍然会恪守他们对于“尊重女性”的理解——女孩不读书,初潮就嫁人,尽量多的生孩子。
而把控她们的男人们,还会打心底里,“替”她们感到高兴。
原标题:《塔利班为何对女性如此严苛?》
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