US Magazine warns of Afghan migrant women facing ‘Gender Apartheid’ in Afghanistan
Written By: Tabasum Nasiry
“Newsweek,” a weekly magazine published in the United States, has warned of the “disastrous” consequences of Pakistan’s repatriation of Afghan migrant women to a government with gender apartheid in its latest article titled “Pakistan Must Stop Sending Afghan Women Migrants Back to a Gender Apartheid Regime.”
Published on Monday, December 18, the magazine states that women migrants expelled from Pakistan are facing a “humanitarian crisis” and a “human rights disaster” in Afghanistan.
Referring to the life of a migrant woman named “Zahab” Newsweek writes: “Pakistanis of Afghan origin like Zahab fled their country in terror amidst Taliban threats after their takeover in 2021,” and are now being sent back to a place where not only has the terror not diminished but increasing restrictions have paralyzed half of the society in terms of human engagement.
Newsweek quotes the migrant woman living with her three children in a rented apartment in Islamabad: “The day starts, but they [the migrant family] have nowhere to go. They are afraid to leave the apartment because they fear being arrested or deported.”
According to the magazine, the fear of forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan has reached its “peak.”
Newsweek criticizes the Pakistani government for not registering Afghans residing in Pakistan over the past 15 years, saying this “recklessness” and unmeasured action has impacted the lives of nearly two million people.
International organizations and human rights bodies have consistently expressed concern over the plight of migrants, especially women, deported from Pakistan.
The Women’s Division of the United Nations had previously emphasized in a report that the deportation of Afghan migrant women from Pakistan has left them in a state of uncertainty, fear, and depression.
About two months ago, the Pakistani government ordered the deportation of over one million “illegal” Afghan migrants, with nearly 500,000 having returned to their country so far.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has also expressed concern over the deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, noting that this action puts more women’s rights activists at risk of persecution.
Afghan women and girls describe their life under the rule of the Taliban administration as “a gradual death.” Human rights defenders say the current situation in Afghanistan is undesirable for any human being.
The Taliban regime has openly refused to accept women’s freedoms and has increased its restrictions against them. These growing restrictions have led to an increase in suicides among women and girls, nearly doubled the mental and psychological issues faced by women, and severely limited their access to open environments and health facilities.
CNN recently reported the story of a 15-year-old Afghan girl who attempted suicide due to the restrictions imposed by the Taliban, with her brother and sister in Karachi now struggling to save her life.
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