Women in Afghanistan

Yes, a reply came back. Can't talk about specific cases. Data protection and all that.
Still watching the news.

It's also the pressure on the Government to be seen doing something about 'immigration'.
There are frequent Threads on GN declaring dis-satisfaction with the Government about it, and that reflects the unease in the general population, some of which is deliberately inflamed.
Anyway. Have posted the letter.
And will keep watching the news.

Maremia

Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, all affected by the new Visa bar.
To cut down on alleged immigration abuse.

False economy once again.
If the tories hadn’t cut the border force staff they would have stood more of a chance on checking up on visa holders whether they were still in the country or not.

Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan, all affected by the new Visa bar.
To cut down on alleged immigration abuse.

Thanks for that link petra.

Whether or not you support Amnesty International, their advice on how to effectively address the Powerful could still be useful.

Rosie51, thanks for the information on Amnesty, if not been aware of this.

FWIW, I absolutely share your conclusions that perpetrators of rape in war gains sexual pleasure in their disgusting behaviour

Rosie51

MaizieD that link is only available to Bluesky members.

There’s an article in The Guardian reporting on this shameful decision.

www.theguardian.com/education/2026/mar/10/sudanese-scientists-shock-home-office-ends-visas-for-sudan-students

MaizieD that link is only available to Bluesky members.

Well, talking of Sudan, this is the post from Bluesky which alerted me to the Afghan girl's plight

‪Trish Greenhalgh‬
‪@trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social‬
And so we write to brilliant postgraduate students from Sudan, withdrawing the offers and scholarships they won in open competition with the best in the world. A sad day for the University of Oxford.

Trish Greenhalgh is an Oxford professor.

bsky.app/profile/riverlorien.bsky.social/post/3mgpjdlpb2s22

I'm afraid Amnesty International lost my support and monthly donation some while ago. They are in favour of legal self identification. Women's rights in western countries mean nothing to them but they'll use the vulnerability of females in other societies, especially the third world as a fundraising exercise. They even publish articles condemning the Supreme Court adjudication that sex in the Equality Act means biological sex at birth. I don't think we can look to them to assist in the fight for women's safety and rights.
Rape may well have some basis as a power display especially in war situations, but it would take a lot to convince me that the perpetrator doesn't gain sexual pleasure from it.

Yes Iam64, protest writing is something everyone on Gransnet is able to do. Not saying it's easy to find the right words.
Amnesty International used to have a page of 'how to address important powerful folk, in a way to be more effective'.
Going out to post mine tomorrow

It makes me so angry I feel nauseous - response to Cossy and Chocolatelovingran though thanks both for your posts.

Some posters (them again) will respond by reminding us that women can be violent, can sexually abuse children. Yes, anyone with a tiny bit of involvement in the assessment, investigation, support of children and families work, whatever the agency, will acknowledge this. It remains the case though that sexual violence against women and children is predominantly carried out by men.

Rape has long been a war crime, seen by both ‘sides’ after 0ctober 7.

What’s happening in Sudan hardly bares reading about. Rape of babies, gang rapes of women causing death.

It’s distressing, can be overwhelming. I’m feeling as I head into my late seventies, that marches, camping outdoors side today’s equivalent of Greenham are physically beyond me. I’ll write to my mp, sign petitions, vote for people I believe will do their best for the VAWAG movement, yes I’d include boys, I’m well aware they’re also exploited Bur we need to be aware of the toxic malign culture surrounding adolescent boys and girls

Unfortunately, these behaviours are not always prosecuted in other countries either.
Five Israeli soldiers will not be facing any actions regarding the sexual assault on a Palestinian prisoner, captured on CCTV, resulting in her hospitalisation.

Whitewavemark2

What I think is really unforgivable is that the west opened a window for Afghanistan women and allowed them to think that they had the right to education and other freedoms like freedom from the tyranny of the burka, being stoned to death, going out and about without male escort etc.

Then we shut it with a loud bang.

What a dreadful thing to do.

I feel this way too! I think this is why I’m so angry about this whole Iranian debacle, Trump will undoubtedly step away when he’s bored and say “it’s up to the people of Iran now! What does he believe? Normal Iranian people have a stash of weapons in the back of their wardrobes?

I feel very angry when the same rhetoric is applied to male refugees, “oh why are they not staying in their own countries and fighting back?”, or “what cowards these men are, coming here without the females!”

So to answer both questions, most of these men have no access to weapons of any type, most of these journeys are far to arduous for women with children to actually make.

Iam64
Power? As in a lot of rape cases it has nothing to do with sex.
It’s that power of terrifying someone.

Thanks petra for your link. I’d read about this disgusting practice, one that’s been seen in other cultures but seems prevalent and accepted in cultures I’d identify as promoting the idea that adult macho men rule everyone else.

It fits neatly into my ongoing question about why so many men are sexually attracted to children.

It’s not just the women who are abused in Afghanistan.
There is a practice involving young boys called Bacha Bazi translates to Play Boy.

www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/shame-and-silence-bacha-bazi-in-afghanistan/

The thing Sarnia, about violence and rape, is that British men, with their upbringing, also commit these crimes.

That's amazing. Will they stay in Rwanda when they finish school?

There are a lot of Afghan girls studying in Rwanda.

www.mathschool.com/blog/news-and-events/empowering-girls-through-math-sola-and-rsm

Iam64

The situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is shocking and seems to be getting worse. I wish the women and girls could get to Europe and find refuge. That’s unlikely given every move is proscribed. I find it difficult not to wonder how many men who seek refuge in Europe share the Taliban views on women and girls

2 very good points from your post.
1. Yes, very unlikely that women could escape to Europe as they have to have a male chaperone with them when they go outside the home.

2. Sadly these young men, brought up in cultures where women are second best to men, will have exactly those views on women. We have seen so much of it in the media with sexual assaults and rapes.

Radio 4/just now, interview with a yiung Afghan woman who studied at Oxford, now in the USA. She spoke positively of the opportunities she had in the UK. She was welcomed and found British people warm friendly supportive. She hopes this policy can be amended

I was wondering why it was closed, and it was partly due to many new applicants not meeting criteria, but I had also forgotten about the data breach where they released thousands of the names of the applicants, so the closure seems to be partly linked to that as well.

Thanks Galaxy.