Taliban win, women lose
I hereby announce a mass suicide event for the women of Pakistan. Oh, wait, the government is already ‘negotiating’ that suicide mission for us. There goes my chance of going down in history with a bang. I will probably go down wearing a black burqa, anonymous and insignificant. Especially if our Government’s negotiations with the Taliban are a success. Taking out the facts and theories behind the birth of the Taliban, and also their tragically twisted minds, what is it that they want? Sharia in all its interpretive glory to be implemented in Pakistan to begin with, that’s all. They want to bring the time predicated in the holy Quran before the Day of Judgment when the world will be ruled by Muslims, by their definition of Muslims.
From the point of view of a woman, that definition in all its logic focuses on strangulation of all rights a woman can have as a living, breathing, intelligent human being. And let’s face it, we don’t have much space to begin with. If I am raped, my case will be stuck in court for years while the civil legal system will argue with the theological legal system about DNA report can be permitted as evidence or not. After years and years of pondering (on their part), I will either give up my quest for justice or be jailed for adultery instead. If I am a divorced mother, and I choose to remarry, the Sharia already in place will take away my child from me. But for now, at least I can study, wear pants, go out, work, drive and smoke in public (if I can handle the stares that is!). For me, this is liberty enough to be thankful for. But if my country will take all this away from me and my daughter…just the thought of it makes me go in sheer panic.
It is nothing more than a political move, I keep telling myself, in denial. But then isn’t religion also politics? Logical conclusion, I hate politics…at least in this country it never stands to favor women, women like me.
In a country where girls are shot for pursuing education, schools and women’s colleges are bombed, honor killings are an everyday matter, our government has agreed to negotiate with the very people behind all this and more. They say, this is best for the country-to end terrorism. How can they not see, that it will be the women who will continue to face massive terrorism if the conditions of the Taliban are met? A country, with a sizable defence budget, an army to boast of and an intelligence agency which is really quite intelligent, chooses to negotiate with troublemakers to attain peace seems like a bad satire to begin with considering what that peace will entail.
The moral code as defined by Sharia if implemented in full, as demanded by the ‘men’ of Taliban, will give our men complete authority over us. Starting from our choice of clothes but not limited to our education, movement, career, marital options and so many other aspects, this authority will eventually cover our entire existence. The current laws and culture, (although still unfair) already control many of our choices but at least it does not, by law, permits lashing, beating or murdering of women who do not comply. That will also change.
I make my living to support myself and my child. I speak my mind to remain sane in a country that is confused and stuck between Western modern society ideals and orthodox religious practices. I wear pants, because I like to. I stand at a risk of losing not only my pants, but my independence, my thoughts and dreams, my future…my entire life. Where would I go in a society formed on the tenets of a terrorist organization that stones women like me to death? Where would my daughter go?