<butt-ugly-fish>Urban Legend Zeitgeist: Treament of Afghan Women Email Petition


Synopsis

Circulating an email petition decrying the treatment of women under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan will improve their lot.

See the petition here.

Is it true? Yes, the treatment of women by the Taliban government in Afghanistan is deplorable and numerous human rights groups has rightly protested it, and, yes, the email petition was started with the best of intentions, but no, signing and circulating an email petition will not help them.
Why?

The Taliban regime succeeded in winning power after a protracted and bloody civil war following the equally protracted and bloody war ignited by the invasion of Afghanistan by the USSR. Arguably the civil war continues. The Taliban does not hold undisputed control over the entire country.

The Taliban's primary goal on coming to power was a strict implementation of the Islamic vision of social order known as the Sharia. In many ways the Sharia describes a role for women in Islamic societies that is sharply at odds with modern, Western societies.

The Urban Legend Zeitgeist can't resolve the basic differences in social and religious philosophy at stake here. However, human rights organizations and UN organizations have documented the treatment of women in Afghanistan.

The Taliban regime is a pariah in the international community. It is diplomatically recognized by only three other countries. It receives little in the way of international aid of any sort. In short, there are few levers by which the international community can moderate the Taliban's policies. If elected officials from democratic countries are unmoved by email petitions, what impact could they have on the Taliban?

Most versions of the Taliban petition contain instructions to forward the signed petition to an email address where they will be collected and passed on. However, email sent to the address will be ignored.

When?1999
Comments

This well intentioned, if misguided, petition was started by a student at Brandeis University. The response was overwhelming, so overwhelming that Brandeis University terminated the student's email privileges and closed the email address.

See also
Zeitgeist to Order

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