Introduction: The War in Afghanistan

The war in Afghanistan started when the Americans retaliated for the terrorist attacks on New York City in 2001. This war affects us all in one way or another. Anytime someone wants to board an airplane to fly somewhere on vacation, they encounter strict airport security. Anyone living in cities has to be concerned with potential attacks by Muslim extremist terrorists on hotels or public transportation.

This theme also interests me because it affects me personally. My uncle is in the American army and was sent to Afghanistan many times. It also interests me because of women’s rights, which are very different from the Western countries. I know how the families feel who have a father, mother, uncle, aunt, bother, sister, husband or wife in Afghanistan. The families are afraid for their safety. Unfortunately, not many people are interested and people should do more to help end the war in Afghanistan.

Before the Taliban came, women in Afghanistan had more rights and freedom than now. Women now have to wear a burqa because, according to a Taliban spokesman, “the face of a woman is a source of corruption” for men not related to the women. Girls are allowed to be educated up until the age of eight – they are only allowed to study the Qur’an, but not afterwards any more. They’re also not allowed to work.

After the age of eight, women in Afghanistan have to follow a lot of rules. All of these rules and more were introduced by the Taliban; these rules didn’t exist before. These are some rules women have to follow:

- Women were not allowed to be in direct contact with men, other than a close blood relative, husband, or in-law

- The women are not allowed go onto the streets without a burqa or without a blood relative man

- Nobody is allowed to hear the foot steps of a woman

- They’re not allowed to speak loudly in public

- Women are not allowed to be seen in their houses from the street

- They are not allowed to stand out on their balconies

- They are not allowed to be on radio or television

- It is not allowed to take pictures of women and display these pictures

They are punished in many different ways if they are caught not following the rules. Some of the punishments included public beatings, stoning, and imprisonment. The husbands could also be punished for not looking after their women.

Women and men should have the same rights and should be treated equally. I think these rules are wrong because I think the men only want to show power to other men so the other men have respect for them.

I don’t support the war, but the Americans could help the Afghan people to chose a government and support them as well as they can so the soldiers can go home to their families.