This DU Pass Out Afghan Girl Is Leading Fight Against Taliban For Women’s Rights

As the Taliban engulfs Afghanistan, the state and fate of women are at stake. They are horrified, afraid, and seeking help. Yet some Bravehearts have stood up to the atrocities that lie ahead if the Taliban’s Shariyati law is allowed.

For the same Kabul saw quite a handful of protests from women, albeit them coming out in small numbers to demand their rights. The marches are continuing with women seeking their rights. There have also been visuals that show women singing songs in masses to express their horror and grief.

One woman, who is somewhat leading and fueling this uprising, is Crystal Bayat. She is behind these brave women to make their voices heard in the streets of Kabul.

The activist has a connection to India for she got her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Daulat Ram College in Delhi University. Crystal also holds a master’s degree from United Nations Institute in Delhi. She finished her education in 2019 and returned to her native country.

Crystal comes from a quite progressive family with her mother being a doctor and her father working for the interior ministry of the Afghan government.

“I have been studying for the last 19 years and striving to achieve my goals. But today, unfortunately, all my dreams died. In the last 20 years, we have seen a lot of changes in our society and they are taking back all that from us,”

Crystal Bayat told NYT expressing her worry over the supposed state of affairs for women in Afghanistan post-Taliban takeover.

And so she decided to protest against them. She has been using WhatsApp to encourage women to take part in the protests but despite her constant efforts, only a handful of women turned up, and over 1000 men did too. They used the Afghan flag as a mark of resistance.

“I didn’t give up due to the verbal threats and airstrikes. They beat up many people. People were being shot at, especially some of the girls who were with me. They broke a young man’s mobile phone… they used violence and coercion. I was scared when I saw that if we resist, they would fire at us. Taliban has not changed. They still do not believe in the freedom and demands of the citizens. Restrictions, killings, violence, deprivations, and the tyranny of the Taliban forced me to stand up against terrorism and extremism,” she said while speaking to The Hindu reasoning why she is taking the helm despite the risks.

“Their soldiers were staring at our clothes. I really felt harassed and violent but I was sure they wouldn’t beat me in public. I talked with one of their soldiers he couldn’t convince me, there is a big difference between the statements and beliefs. I was afraid of being followed and chased. I was facing with Taliban for the first time and I was trembling. Their demeanor, mannerisms, and speech had taken away peace from my mind,”

she added.

When we searched for her account on Facebook and tried her number, we found that the contact number is actually not hers for someone dressed as an Afghan man was in the DP in Whatsapp. This hindered us from trying to contact her.

Earlier she had said to The Hindu that she is scared to attend calls from India as her phone is “under control”. She and her family are looking for a safe place and she doesn’t have access to the Internet for more than a few hours each day.

“We have to hide from trouble. I am on the way to leave Kabul as soon as possible. Outside, I can’t talk loudly,” she said.

She also voices her opinions and calls for protests on social media.

“How sad are the stories of women who have experienced twenty years of war and bloodshed? Afghanistan is in a terrible situation. The world must hear and act on the voices of Afghan women and youths. No one knows what will happen tomorrow,”

she quoted staring into the deep dark unknown.

Let us just hope that the people out there make it somehow. We can only wish for their safety.