Sivakumar M V, Subrat Kumar Ratha

Gendering Civil Liberties Under Taliban Theocracy: A Case Of Post-2021 Afghanistan

Introduction

Gendering civil liberties under taliban theocracy: a case of post-2021 afghanistan. Examines how Taliban theocracy in post-2021 Afghanistan restricts women's civil liberties, analyzing gender disparities under Sharia law and implications for global recognition.

Abstract

In the aftermath of the US military withdrawal, Afghanistan turned into an Islamic Emirate, installed by the Taliban through harsh interpretation of Sharia laws. Within the framework of the Emirate, this paper intends to ask how the Taliban theocracy excludes women from exercising civil liberties in Afghanistan. Given the context of the gender dimension, the withdrawal of the US military and the re-emergence of the Taliban at the political helm converted Afghanistan into a Theocratic state. They supplied power from the depth of religious sources. Considering the Taliban theocracy as a method of governance, it has been crucial to identify the gender disparities perpetuated through multiple civic restrictions upon women. Unlike modern constitutional democracies, the Islamic Emirates have a distinct interpretation of gender equality, locating the position of women in the political set-up as secondary. With the usage of qualitative and descriptive research methods, this paper examines, along with the question and the emerging grounds, the internal contradictions between the Taliban theocracy and civil liberties in Afghanistan through the perspective of women. Moreover, the paper focuses on assessing the validity of a deep state to legitimise the governance of the Taliban and the exclusion of women from civic life. Having been convinced of the significance of inclusive governance in Afghanistan, this paper also attempts to address the possible political bargain available before the Taliban by allowing women to exercise civil liberty; in return, the Taliban government would produce confidence globally to be recognised as a sovereign state. The findings of this paper encircle the question and the grounds identified and maintain the authenticity by showing the data extracted from both primary and secondary sources with sound analysis.

Review

This paper proposes a highly relevant and critical examination of the erosion of women's civil liberties in post-2021 Afghanistan under the Taliban's re-established theocratic rule. The central inquiry into how the Taliban's harsh interpretation of Sharia laws systematically excludes women from civic life is timely and crucial, providing a much-needed analytical lens on the current humanitarian and human rights crisis. Utilizing qualitative and descriptive research methods, the study aims to uncover the internal contradictions between a theocratic governance model, drawing power from religious sources, and the fundamental principles of civil liberties, specifically from the perspective of women. The abstract clearly articulates the paper's intention to ground its findings in authentic data extracted from both primary and secondary sources, promising a robust analysis. A significant strength of this proposed research lies in its critical engagement with the concept of gender equality within a theocratic framework, explicitly contrasting it with modern constitutional democracies. The paper's ambition extends beyond mere analysis, venturing into assessing the validity of a "deep state" to legitimize the Taliban's governance and the exclusion of women, a theoretical angle that could offer novel insights. Furthermore, the attempt to identify a potential political bargain—where allowing women to exercise civil liberties could foster global confidence and recognition for the Taliban government—demonstrates a forward-looking and policy-oriented approach, moving beyond diagnosis to explore avenues for resolution or leverage. This dual focus on both the structural issues and potential pragmatic solutions enhances the paper's overall significance and potential impact. While the abstract effectively outlines a comprehensive and compelling research agenda, certain areas could benefit from further specificity to strengthen the paper's theoretical and methodological clarity. A more explicit conceptualization of "civil liberties" within the paper's analytical framework, particularly given the specific Afghan context and the contrasting interpretations, would be valuable. Similarly, the concept of a "deep state" as a mechanism for legitimization is intriguing, but the abstract could offer a brief clarification of how this concept will be operationalized and connected to the Taliban's religious authority and governance structures. Addressing the feasibility and mechanisms of the proposed "political bargain" in more detail, perhaps by hinting at the type of evidence or analytical framework used to assess it, would also reinforce the paper's promise of "sound analysis" and its potential for practical policy implications.

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