Women's Rights and Resistance in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
Afghan women face severe rights abuses under the Taliban, leading to courageous public protests, sometimes joined by men, despite violent crackdowns and inte...
How Herat defied the Taliban regime, chanting ‘women, work and freedom’
The article details recent protests in Herat, Afghanistan, where women and men defied the Taliban regime, chanting 'Women, Work and Freedom' against strict dress codes and restrictions on women's education, employment, and public life. The protests were triggered by mass arrests of women for alleged dress code violations by the Taliban's morality police. The Taliban governs based on a strict, Deobandi-influenced interpretation of Sharia law, which has led to widespread human rights abuses. While some women have been released, their treatment in detention remains unknown. The United Nations and other international organizations have condemned the crackdown, but the Taliban shows no signs of altering its course. The protests, though small, signify growing frustration within Afghan communities, including men, against the Taliban's rule.
Syllabus mapping
Mains syllabus topics
Women Population Urbanization
Prelims takeaways
- The Taliban's governance in Afghanistan is based on a strict interpretation of Sharia law, specifically a Deobandi-influenced approach, differing from the historically followed Hanafi school.
- Key restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women include bans on secondary and higher education, severe limitations on employment, mandatory male guardianship for travel, and strict dress codes (e.g., burqa as preferred hijab).
- The role of 'morality police' in enforcing these regulations through patrols, arrests, and detentions.
- International bodies like UNAMA and UN Women monitor and condemn human rights violations in Afghanistan.
- Herat's historical significance as a progressive and culturally vibrant center in Afghanistan, making the recent protests notable.
- The 'Woman, Life and Freedom' slogan originated from Iran's 2022 movement and was adopted in Afghanistan.
Elimination traps
- Confusing the specific interpretation of Sharia law adopted by the Taliban (Deobandi) with the historically prevalent one in Afghanistan (Hanafi).
- Misattributing the origin of the 'Woman, Life and Freedom' slogan solely to Afghanistan.
- Overlooking the distinction between the Taliban's verbal guidance, decrees, and codified laws regarding women's dress and public presence.
Static concepts
- Sharia law
- Hanafi school of Sunni jurisprudence
- Deobandi-influenced interpretation
- Burqa
- Hijab
- Manto
- Morality police
Probable question areas
Question areas
- Questions on the current political and social situation in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime, particularly concerning human rights and women's rights.
Question areas
- Comparative analysis of different schools of Islamic jurisprudence (e.g., Hanafi vs. Deobandi) and their implications for governance.
Question areas
- Role and mandate of UN bodies like UNAMA in monitoring human rights in conflict-affected regions.
Question areas
- Geopolitical implications of the Taliban's rule for regional stability and India's foreign policy.
UPSC concepts in this story
Durable syllabus ideas for revision — not article memory.
Taliban's Interpretation and Enforcement of Sharia Law in Afghanistan
The Taliban's rule in Afghanistan is defined by its rigid Sharia interpretation, leading to severe human rights abuses, especially against women, and interna...
Previous year Prelims questions on overlapping themes and topics.
Consider the following statements regarding the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS):
1. The summit held in 2015 marked the third edition of the IAFS.
2. The IAFS mechanism was instituted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. 1 only
Statement 1 is correct: The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was hosted in New Delhi in October 2015. The first and second summits were held in 2008 (New Delhi) and 2011 (Addis Ababa), respectively, making the 2015 event the third edition. Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Africa Forum Summit was institutionalized in 2008 to serve as the official platform for African-Indian relations. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a pioneer of Afro-Asian solidarity (e.g., the Asian Relations Conference of 1947), the IAFS is a distinct 21st-century initiative and was not established in 1951.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:
1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
Explanation
Correct answer
D. 1, 2 and 3
Statement 1 is correct. The United Nations General Assembly may grant non-member states, international organizations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status. Statement 2 is correct. The General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organizations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly. Statement 3 is correct. Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not participant/ participants?
1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Correct answer
C. 1 and 3 only
All 6 participants of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are member countries bordering the basins of the Mekong and Ganga rivers, aiming to collaborate on various initiatives. These countries are: - India - Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Thailand - Vietnam Hence, China & Bangladesh are not part of the Mekong-Ganga Corporation.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -
Explanation
Correct answer
B. Israel
The Two-State Solution is used in the context of the Israel-Palestine issue. It envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel west of the Jordan River.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
* Statement I is correct: Several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have established diplomatic relations with Israel. * Statement II is incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative, mediated by Saudi Arabia, was endorsed by the Arab League but not signed by Israel. It outlines a path towards peace in exchange for Israeli concessions, but Israel has not formally accepted all its terms.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located
1. Donbas : Syria
2. Kachin : Ethiopia
3. Tigray : North Yemen
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Explanation
Correct answer
D. None
* The Donbas is a historical, cultural, and economic region in eastern Ukraine. It has two heavily industrialised regions of Donetsk and Luhansk which were occupied by Russian forces last year. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched. * Kachin State is the northernmost state of Myanmar. In 2022, Myanmar military air * strikes reportedly killed dozens of people including civilians at a concert in Kachin State. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched. * Tigray is Ethiopia's northernmost region. The region is at the centre of an ongoing civil conflict involving ethno-regional militias, the federal government, and the Eritrean military that has attracted the concern of humanitarian groups and external actors since November 2020. In October 2022, the first formal African Union-led peace talks between an Ethiopian government team and Tigray forces happened in South Africa. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Consider the following pairs :
Regions : often Reason for being in news
1. North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique
3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia : Dispute between Israel and Lebanon
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched ?
Explanation
Correct answer
D. None
None of the pairs (1, 2, or 3) are correctly matched. Let's break it down: 1. North Kivu and Ituri: This region in the Democratic Republic of Congo experiences conflict, but is not related to the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 2. Nagorno-Karabakh: This enclave is disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the insurgency is happening in Mozambique. 3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia: These are currently under heavy fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, not a dispute between Israel and Lebanon.
International Relations
Current Affairs
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
In the Indian context, what is the implication of ratifying the 'Additional Protocol' with the `International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'?
Explanation
Correct answer
A. The civilian nuclear reactors come under IAEA safeguards.
India signed the Additional Protocol to the IAEA safeguards agreement on May 15, 2009. An additional protocol to the Safeguards Agreement between the Government of India and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities entered into force on 25 July 2014. Hence option 1 is correct.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
What is the importance of developing Chabahar Port by India?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.
India signed a deal to develop the Chabahar port with Iran. Apart from the bilateral agreement between India and Iran, a trilateral transit and trade corridor deal was also signed by India, Iran and Afghanistan which would ensure easy movement of goods between the three countries, bypassing Pakistan. The Chabahar port is situated in South Eastern part of Iran and on the northern coast of Gulf of Oman It is surrounded by Afghanistan in the North, Pakistan in the North-East and India in the East. The location of the Chabahar port is of strategic importance to India in linking trade routes from the Indian Ocean to Afghanistan, Central Asia and also to Europe; thereby avoiding a land route through Pakistan.
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Consider the following pairs:
Country - Important reason for being in the news recently
1. Chad – Setting up of permanent military base by China.
2. Guinea – Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3. Lebanon – Severe and prolonged economic depression
4. Tunisia – Suspension of Parliament by President
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Explanation
Correct answer
C. Only three pairs
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. China has not established any permanent military base in Chad. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Guinean special forces staged a coup, captured President Alpha Conde, replaced governors with the military, and dissolved the constitution and National Assembly. Pair 3 is correctly matched. Lebanon has been experiencing a severe and prolonged economic depression since 2019, driven by political instability, inadequate reforms, and systemic corruption. The economic crisis has affected approximately 74% of the population. Pair 4 is correctly matched. Tunisian President Kais Saied dissolved the suspended parliament after lawmakers held an online meeting and voted to repeal presidential decrees. He called it a failed coup attempt.
Current Affairs
International Relations
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Constitutional & Statutory Bodies
External Sector & Capital Flows
Previous year Mains questions mapped to overlapping GS syllabus topics.
Does tribal development in India centre around two axes, those of displacement and of rehabilitation? Give your opinion.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people’s needs in a country like India – Comment.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
How do you account for the growing fast food industries given that there are increased health concerns in modern society? Illustrate your answer with the Indian experience.
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
Effects of globalization on Indian society
View Mains PYQ
Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources.
Salient features of world's physical geography
Distribution of natural resources and industrial location
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
How does smart city in India address the issues of urban poverty and distributive justice?
Salient features of Indian Society and Diversity
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
Explain briefly the ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India with suitable examples.
Distribution of natural resources and industrial location
Women, population, poverty, urbanization and development
View Mains PYQ
What was the immediate trigger for the recent protests in Herat, Afghanistan, against the Taliban regime?
Explanation
The article explicitly states, 'The immediate trigger for the unrest was a series of arrests carried out by the Taliban’s morality police. Women and girls were detained for allegedly violating the regime’s dress code...'
The article mentions that while Afghanistan historically followed the Hanafi school of Sunni jurisprudence, the Taliban has adopted a far stricter interpretation. Which specific influence is cited for this stricter interpretation?
Explanation
The article states, '...the Taliban has adopted a far stricter, Deobandi-influenced interpretation.'
The slogan 'Women, Work and Freedom' chanted during the Herat protests is noted to be inspired by a similar movement. Which country's movement is identified as the probable inspiration?
Explanation
The article mentions, '...chanting “Women, Work and Freedom”, a slogan probably inspired by Iran’s 2022 “Woman, Life and Freedom” movement...'
Examine the implications of the Taliban's strict interpretation of Sharia law on human rights, particularly women's rights, in Afghanistan. Discuss the challenges faced by international bodies in addressing these issues.
Introduce the Taliban's governance model, detail its impact on women's rights (education, work, public life), analyze the challenges for international intervention, and conclude with potential ways forward.
Analyze how the growing internal resistance against the Taliban regime, as seen in Herat, could impact regional stability and the broader geopolitical landscape. What role can international institutions play in such a scenario?
Begin by explaining the significance of internal resistance, discuss its potential impact on Afghanistan's internal dynamics and regional security, and then outline the possible roles and limitations of international institutions.