Interview with Afghan women
On the day I met Mahsooda in her home, she and her comrades
of the Afghan Revolutionary Labour Organisation – an underground socialist party
– had just received tragic news,
Eight of their comrades and their seven children had been killed two nights
before in US bombing raids in and around the city of Kharkhana,
Mahsooda and her other comrades could not reveal to me their real names because
they work secretly under dangerous conditions, But they told me the names and
ages of their dead comrades. "They are now martyrs and cannot be killed
twice," I was told.
Four of the dead socialists were female activists – Llallama (31), Marzia (25),
Rabia (30) and Gulmaco (40).
The men were Abdul Karin (21), Abdul Farouk (47). Abdul Rahman (51) and Abdullah
(38).
At that stage, no-one was sure of the names and ages of the dead children but
told me they would pass that information on as soon as they found out.
It is easy to be a socialist activist in Scotland, where you can publicly argue
for your ideas, produce leaflets and newspapers, organise campaigns, stand in
elections.
The life of an Afghan is entirely different. First, they have they have no money
for leaflets, websites, computers.
Every day is a struggle to survive. The activists I met live in grinding poverty,
often eating nothing but potatoes for days at a time.
They have no money for leaflets and newspapers. Even if they had they could
not distribute them, because they live under a permanent death sentence.
Even those like Mahsooda, living in exile across the border in Peshawar would
be killed by the Taliban and other religious extremists if their identities
were discovered,
But as an organiser of the party’s women’s section, Mahsooda carries out in
effect double underground work. They are in even more danger of punishment from
the religious parties if they are discovered. And the women Mahsooda organises
are forced to meet clandestinely, behind the backs of the men in their families,
" Lots of women conform to a traditional role. But many thirst for knowledge
and want to become active.’" says Mahsooda, herself a mother of four young
children,
"Women have a long history of involvement in political struggle in Afghanistan.
But now many men won’t allow them to attend events, or courses. We have lots
of women comrades who work in secret from their husbands, brothers and fathers,
They will say ‘we are going to the market’ or ‘we are going to buy clothes’
but instead they will come to this house and other houses."
The day after I met Mahsooda, I met two other women organisers who have never
met Mahsooda, because the party works in a secret cell structure.
Shalhala is 27 years old and is from the province of Bamiya in Central Afghanistan
– a Shia Muslim stronghold that has suffered terrible sectarian persecution
at the hands of the Sunni Muslim Taliban.
Earlier this year, the Taliban went on the rampage in the area, destroying world-renowned
Buddhust statues and slaughtering villagers.
One of Shalala’s uncles and four of her cousins were executed when the Taliban
entered two villages, Darali and Naick and rounded up all the men.
"In Darali, the people had come out of their homes to welcome the Taliban.
But then they collected the men from the houses, brought them to the centre
of the village and tied their hands;
"No-one thought they were going to be killed, they thought they would be
taken to jail. But they kiloled them all – 180 in Darali and 220 in Naick."
Shalhala says that women are more hostile to the Taliban than men. "Some
women, those who are ferom extremely religious backgrounds support them.
But not most women, They see their own houses turned into jails. Most people
–99 per cent of people – in Afghanisatn are Muslim, but most of them want freedom
and democracy."
But Shalhala believes that the choice between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance
is a choice between Frankenstein and Dracula.
Her area was in the past a Norther Alliance stronghold befoere it was captured
by the Taliban. Shalhala expalins that the Northern were guilty of terrible
bestialty against women, kidnapping them regularly and raping them
"They are extremely cruel. One young girl - Shukria was her name – was
attacked in her home by Northern Alliance leaders. They tried to rape her but
she jumped from her window to escape and was killed."
Hilla is 22 and organises the women’s section of the Afghan Revolutionary Labour
Organisation in the city of Herat on the other side of Afghanistan near the
border with Iran.
She speaks good English and tells me that 99 per cent of women in Afghanistan
are uneducated. A major part of Hilla’s work is organising basic educational
schools.
Hilla and her comrades collect women and take them to houses where classes are
held in total secrecy.
They charge very small fees to cover the cost of providing basic materials like
pens, paper and books, Those who have no money are allowed to attend free.
"In each class we teach 10 to 15 women. I have responsibility for five
different courses, but we are organising many other courses across the province
and across thecountry as a whole/ They are orgnaised by the Afghan Revolutionary
Labour Organisation,
"Our first step is to organise basic literacy. Before we can educate women
politically, we first have to teach them to read and write. We also teach basic
medical care and clothes making, Then later, we move on to politics."
Despite the repression they suffer from the Taliban, Hilla says all women in
Afghanisatn oppose the American bombings.
"This is not seen as a war between America and the Taliban – it is seen
as a a war waged by non-Muslims against Muslims. Where I work it is mostly Shia
people. They oppose the Taliban.
"But if they send invade the country on the ground, most people will fight
with the Taliban against America and Britain.
"Yes, America wants to defeat the Taliban and Al Quaida, But their main
aim is to take over Central Asia as they have done with some Arab countries.
"America thought they would win easily, but now they say this is along
war, maybe two or three years."
"But even if America defeats the Taliban and brings in its own government
the Left will still have to work underground because America will not bring
democracy but another dictatorship.
"The Left in Afghanistan has always had to work underground and now things
are getting worse, not better."