Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban

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Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban

This article was the cover story of TIME magazine in August 2010. Despite the text itself, the picture is shocking enough to draw people's attention and it creates an sad atmosphere for readers to read further. The headline "What Happens if We Leave Afghanistan", it positions the article before the readers get to read the content. The picture of a girl with her nose cut, her eyes filled with despair, seems like this is the answer to the question.

At the beginning of the article, the author brings out a critical question, "What is more important? Human rights or the chance to survive?" When we are thinking about women's rights in Afghanistan, should we change the focus to ensure their chance to live on?


As the war in Afghanistan enters its ninth year, voices of demanding the army to leave Afghanistan has been louder and louder. But when and how, become the problems of the policymakers.

Aisha, the "covergirl" of the TIME magazine was taken care of by the U.S. forces, so what will happen to women like her if they fully retreat from Afghanistan?

With increasing number of Islam people moving to other countries like the US, Canada, Australia, etc. The contradicting values start to bring questions in their heart, Islam women has started a soft revolution, in terms of the amount of make up and hair exposure, colourful hijab and the sports that they were once banned from doing. Though there are words that they cannot speak of, but they choose a muted way to express themselves.

The article brings many critical questions to the readers, and also provides lots of information about how the policy has changed towards this issue in these few years. This enables the readers to think critically about this issue, and also reminds people that the war in Afghanistan has not yet been gone.