Since taking power in August 2021, the Taliban has actually sought Erase women from public life. A complex network of laws and policies refused women access to education, the labor market and almost all other aspects of life outside their homes. People courageous enough to go down to the street to protest were Beaten, arrested and tortured.
Despite the levels of dystopian repression, Afghan women continue to show remarkable resilience. Seated access to public life, they turn more and more towards the online sphere, where they went to X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook for challenge the Taliban rule and organize. But, As a new Afghan witness report recently published TRADINGS, Women also turn to social media, in particular Instagram, for entrepreneurship, creativity and self -expression – although often at personal risks.
Although Instagram remains the third most popular social media site in Afghanistan, its growth is palpable – out of 100 accounts that we have analyzed for the report, 86 had been set up since August 2021. The women we interviewed told us that they had mainly flocked to the platform as a direct result of the Taliban’s repressive policies. Some had been forced to leave their university studies or their workplaces since taking control, and considered Instagram as an economic rescue buoy. Others – largely confined to their houses – had set up an account of the desire to do something and express themselves.
The content they share is varied and often inspiring. It goes from the presentation of their daily life to BLsites Sharing inspiring messages and promoting local businesses. Several women have also created small businesses via Instagram, often selling handmade products, jewelry, clothes, candles or other products. An 18 -year -old woman, for example, sells a line of bracelets and telephone cases from a distant district in a northern province, which rides the border with Turkmenistan. With the economy of Afghanistan and women losing more and more access to the labor market, these online companies have become a rescue buoy for many families.
We have also noticed a remarkable feeling of solidarity and “fraternity” among Afghan influencers and bloggers. At least one woman, who has tens of thousands of followers, said she refused to charge companies managed by women to promote their products.
Afghan women using Instagram, however, are also faced with huge challenges.
Almost all the women we have spoken of said that they feared for their own safety and their Taliban reprisals – whether by fines, blows or detention. Many do not show their faces in Instagram publications, while others take additional precautions to hide their identity when they go out, or just try to stay inside as much as possible. As an influencer told us: “The fear we are experiencing when we publish our photos is unimaginable.”
These are not inactive concerns. An influencer woman recently made her camera take by the Taliban “moral police” while taking photos outside Kabul. The Taliban also threatened it. Another woman was forced to flee from Afghanistan after being threatened due to her work of action and model, which she had shared online. It is in the context of the Taliban speaker Harassment, detentions and women violating strict dress codes.
While women are officially authorized to create companies under the Taliban, in practice, they are faced with a Huge amount of obstacles To do it. By an estimateMore than half of the thousands of companies managed by women in Afghanistan had closed just during the first year of the Taliban diet. This has been taken up in our interviews. A woman, who heads a tailor -made clothing company via Instagram, told us that she was forced to close a workshop in Kabul, who employed more than 20 women, following the harassment of the Taliban. Others also pointed out how movement restrictions on women meant that they had to rely on male family members to execute orders and other practical aspects of their work.
It is likely that the Taliban would target women even more with an online presence in the future. Despite international pressure, the regime continues to strengthen control of the life of women and girls. THE Law on the prevention of vice and the promotion of virtue Introduced in August from last year, still imposes other restrictions – including sharing images of living beings online.
Despite the extremely difficult situation faced by Afghan women online, there are practical means that donors, regional governments and international civil society can help. This includes support by resources and training both on how to manage companies online and digital security – although this must be done in a sensitive way that puts women’s safety at the front and center. At a more macro level, the international community must of course continue to put pressure on the Taliban to end the apartheid -type restrictions on women and girls. This should include the support of the many efforts of justice and responsibility targeting the Taliban, including through International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
Afghan women show remarkable resilience to the unprecedented repression of the Taliban – especially online. As a woman has succinctly said to us: “Despite the restrictions, we can do things … and give hope to others.” They need the world’s support more than ever.