Pashtun woman, problems and solution

[Badlun]

I heard a comment that the status of Pakhtun women is worse then that of a dog. Because a dog has liberty to move around but a Pashtun woman has to pass her whole house in the prison of the four walls of her house, even a dog has fundamental freedom of movement but a Pashtun woman has none!!!!!!

I practically see that 95% of Pakhtun women in Paksitan and Afghanistan pass their whole life within the limites of their houses, the only exceptions is that when they go to hospitals or relatives homes, many times fully covered and acompanied by a male guardian...IS IT A LIFE WORTHY TO LEAD????? WHY ABOUT 30 MILLIONS PASHTUN WOMEN ARE SOCIALLY IMPRISONED ???????

There are many other rights like inheritance which must be given to Pashtun women. That with modern education the things are changing but I think once the Pashtun women have the basic right of free movement then they can go to universities and colleges and can participate in social events freely not necessarily under the command of their male Guardians .We must treat Pashtun women as human beings equal to men not a dependent on their men whether husbands, fathers, brothers or sons .

Lets start a movement to liberate the 30 million Pashtun women who are prisoners in their own homes. They are born within the 4 walls and die within the 4 walls of their houses,,,,,,,,,,,what a jail,,,life time imprisonment ,,,,,,,,,how can we liberate Pashtun women from this life time imprisonment?

[Badlun]

For ameliorating the status of Pashtun woman we have to take start from the scratch, from zero. We have to do some thing to take out Pashtun woman from the quagmire they have been fallen by so called Pashtun traditions, Pashtun society, Pashtun chauvinist men and false ideas and wrongly interpreted injunctions of religion and dictates of mullas.

Some friends think that Pashtuns as a whole , both men and women are downtrodden so talking only of women is not justified.

I agree that Pashtuns as a nation , as a race ,,both men and women are suffering. We dont have a single nobel prize holder, a single world level scientist or technologist, or philosopher or scholar etc. Yes we have suicide bombers, terrorists, taliban, decoits, robbers, all negative,nothing positive.

But here the theme of this article is even the worst status of women,who dont have the basic right of movement and expression. We have to break their chains,,men at least have these rights.They are economically better than women.Women totally depend on their men partners socially and economically. Situation of Pashtun women is many times worse than Pashtun men.

All of us have great ideas for the development and imporovement of the status of Pashtun women but what remains is the implementation strategy.How to implement all these ideas.Charity begins at home. Lets start from our sisters, mothers, wives, daughters, cousens, friends etc and then to expand the sphere of influence to other sectors of society.Eucation specially modern education and democracy are the excellent paanceas for all the ills of the Pashtun women.

[Badlun]

We must launch a campaign against all kinds of obscurantist and fundamentalist Mullas, Taliban and their Madrassas specially the extremist Deobandi ,Wahabi , Ahle Hadith and Salafi ones.

However the best struggle can be through peaceful means, by education, internet, youth societies, encouraging Pashtun women and men by various motivational means to understand the dilapidated status of Pashtun women in Pashtun society and adopt all ways and means to change this horrible status of Pashtun women.

Our focus should be Pashtun woman ,,,not Pakistani woman or Muslim woman. We must think on the status of Pashtun woman whether she is in Pakistan or Afghanistan or anywhere else because Pashtun woman on account of the lethal combination of Pashtunwali and so called extremist Islam is suffering because of the traditions and tenets which are barbaric, inhuman , cruel and demonic.

There is a dire need of launching of an awareness campaign that Pashtun woman first must understand their position where they are. Then take steps to improve the situation in such a way that the tarditional family system remaines undisturbed but woman starts enjoying their fundamental rights of choice, expression and movemnet and education.

Govvernment , Taliban and Mulla`s Islam -all these may be some of the reasons of the downtrodden condition of Pashtun woman but for me the amalgam of Pashtunwali and the traditional Islam of Taliban and Mullas is the biggest cause and on these two fronts we have to fight to improve the status of woman in Pashtun society .

On religious front there is a need of reformation and telling the Pashtun woman that they can participate in day to day activities like the wives of the Prophet and his companions. On Pashtunwali front we have to educate our Pashtun men that Pashtun woman is not the sole depositary for his honour and Pashtunwali. If his wife, sister, mother, or daughter goes around and does some business, participates in social , political and economic or educational activitiesor even religious activity like going to mosques,then its not the end of the world. He should not feel mortified that his woman is talking to others or doing business with others and that this is against his , honor ,ghairat or Pashtunwali.

Pashtun woman is iqually an independent Pashtun. A Pashtun man and Pashtun woman should deal each other on equality basis,not one superior or inferior to other ,like a perfect pair based on mutual respect, love and understanding not a boss and subordinate relationship.

[Badlun]

I wish that all the Pashtun women are liberated from the prison of their houses with the honour of Pashtunwali but with their liberty of movement and expression and economic activities.

I need comments , feed back from Pashtun sisters and brothers that how can we liberate millions of Pashtun women from their jails in the shape of their homes . Is it possible to start a Pashtun women movement for liberating them from the clutches of their male masters, enabling them to move freely , to get education where they want and join jobs where they wish.

How can we further control this wave of Talibanization who are bent upon destroying girls schools in many Pashtun lands. Can we do any thing or we should leave Pashtun women at the mercy of these barbaric wolves

Pragmatism with idealism and realism with vision and imagination should be used to solve all problems and in this context the solution to the Problems of Pashtun women lies in the panacea of great ideas of democracy with its implementation in all social and political speheres and the implementation of the philosophical concepts of liberty, equality and fratennity by modern education and religious reformation and reinterpretaion. We must take start from own families, homes, villages , towns, cities and countries to bring a positive change in the status of Pashtun woman.

[Badlun]

Pashtun women dress is an important issue. More than 90 % Pashtun women even cant show their faces in public. They have to cover their whole body like we cover a corpse in coffin. Saudi Arabia and Pashtun areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Pashtunland)are the only two examples even in Muslim world where women are obliged to cover their faces. This is a clear absurdity , an extreme stupidity in this modern era that you dont let a human being even not to show her face.

However we should avoid extremes of shuttle cock burkas and mini skirts. If A Pashtun woman is a profesional lady , if she is intelligent, if she is knowledgable, if she is intellectual and she is Pashtun by race and by practice , she sepaks Pashto, she writes Pashto , she teaches Pashto to her children - all these are important , not how she lives, where she lives , she wears skirt or paint shirt or kamees partug -these are non essential for me ,-however we should avoid both the extremes-mini skirt and shuttle cock burKa are two extremes , we should find a middle way especially when a Pashtun woman live in Pashtunland till the time comes when dress does not remain an important issue as we see nowa days in modern developed world of Europe, America etc.

[Badlun]

Marriage of Pashtun woman is also an important issue. Specially the early marriages, the purely arranged marriages etc. However the religious aspect of marriage of Pashtun men or women with muslims or non muslims is not my concern. Its some body´s individual right how to marry and where to marry. My main concern is the social , legal and economic situation of Pashtun women.

We should admit that Pashtun women have lots of social, legal and economic problems .We have to liberate Pashtun women -the 35 million Pashtun women living like slaves are to be liberated. Its a big challange for human rights organizations and for all those who have little bit of conscience.

One argument is that we should wait till other more important problems of Pashtun society are solved, then we ll concentrate on gender and pashtun women issues.

But we must realize that Pashtun women are 50% of Pashtun population. They are part of Pashto and Pashtunwali . We cant wait till the time when everything will be all right with Pashtuns then we ll tackle the gender issue. Its not an unimportant issue-its part and parcel of the whole reformation and development scheme for Pashtuns.Its not a secondary issue. We have to take it up with war footings basis-its a burning issue. Pashtun´s politics, culture, religion, society , international relations, education,all are related to Pashtun women too.

Pashtun women problems solution is concomitant with Pashtun problems in egenral. We have to adopt a holisitic approach not a piece meal one. How can a Pashtun ignore for the time being the problems of his mother, wife, sisiter, and daughter-no way.

[Badlun]

The emancipation of Pashtun women has political dimension but its more a religious, cultural, educational , psychological ,legal and social issue. Our society, family, culture, laws, misinterpretaion of religion and less opportunities of education are the main factors for the downtrodden situation of Pashtun women. As I earlier said charity begins at home. We may take start from own homes from our own wives, sisters, daughters and even mothers(I am facing a tough time with my mother,,,its very difficult to make her understand about the situation of Pashtun women).

Its also my observation that even women themselves are great obstacle in the way of improvement of the situation of Pashtun woemn. Many times a mother does not wish the betterment of her own daughter. She is responsible for the wrong marriage of her daughter-she does not let her daughter to get modern education etc.
We should educate girls for good marriages and for leading a happy anf full life. Those who are not educated formally may be educated informally or non formally. We must begin the charity at our own homes. Problems like early marriages, marriages without consent , purely arranged marriages etc may be doscouraged with full strength. There are even such Pashtun women who cant go to hospitals and even they have to deliver their babies at homes in the hands of elderly women or unskilled maids.

I wish some friends from Pakistan and Afghanistan may share with us the literacy rate of Pashtun women in Pakistan and Afghanistan.I tried my best but could not get the required data.

[Badlun]

There are also some so called idealists and visionaries who think that gender issues no more exist in Pashtun society and that only general economic problems for both men and women exist but no woemn specific problems exist any more!!!!!!

I would like to remind to these friends that what about the girls schools issue in the Swat and other Pashtun regions?? Why taliban are adamnet on destroying only Pashtun girls schools?

What about the hijab/pardah/veil/burqa Issue of Pashtun women? What about the inheritance and evidence issues of Pashtun women ? What about the forced and early marriages of Pashtun girls? What about selling of Pashtun women by the name of marriages?

What about the economic opportunities issues for Pashtun women in Pashtun world? Have you seen a single Pashtun woemn for example a shopkeeper in the whole specially rural areas of Pashtun land?Majority of pashtun women still depend economically and financially on their men. Can you imagine of a Pashtun lawyer in district courts in Pashtun areas'?

Can a pashtun woman walk , travel and move freely and alone in Pashtun villages.How much is the percentage of Pashtun boys and girls in universities and colleges? and many more like these.

Pashtun women issues of discrimiantion exist and is in the worst form. We cant portray a rosy picture or mix men problems with women problems. I agree there are common problems of Pashtun men and women like poverty but there are many problems which are only and only women specific.

[Badlun]

Many Pashtun women adjust themselves with the situation and sccept the reality. My mother is also like that.She does not want any change, any freedom.She is happy where she is. All the time at home except when has to go hospital or any ceremony!!!!!!!

Some friend sthink that Pashtun women face problems only in poor families but In the well off families too I have seen they dont allow their female members to do wahtever they want in a genuine manner.They are mostly at mercy of the male members. They may go to co education institutions but may not allow the girls to choose their life partner at their own sweet will.And how many well off families we have? Few in big cities. Majority of Pashtuns live in rural areas and they are either poor or middle class. Specially in tribal and moutaneius areas the situation is worst.
There are various women rights organizations and feminists but not in Pashtun areas first because Pashtuns dont let such organizations to work in their areas, second the world has not become conscious so far of the women issues in Pashtun society. We are engaged in many other areas like terrorism and political issues and the women problems have been put at back burner.


We need to build our society from bottom up and that a proper background has to be set for any change that we want to see in our society. We must bring the change in a pragmatic and efefctive way.

[Badlun]

Pashtun code of life or Pashtunwali is the basic right which all Pashtun women should have but first the Pashtun basic code or Pashtunwali is not very well defined, not in written shape so far like a constitution or a legal penal or civil code and thus may not be implemented as such and many times it is abused like the honour killings of Pashtun women based on this code.Often the whole code revolves aroung women honour while the code says nothing of the women rights.

The gender Equality is a technical issue. I have seen that one factor for the progress of the West is geneder equality. They dont keep half of their population at homes but utilize them as human resource whether male or female. The only biological difference of reproduction mechanism of woman and man makes not a bIg difference.How many children will be born by a woman, 1, 2 , not dozens like by Pashtun women.Women are there in the West every where, astronauts, pilots, truck drivers, shop keepers, industrialists, maangers, teachers, etc .The gender does not stop them doing any thing. Gender is more a psychological and social issue than biological. I dont see where in West the gender equality was a failure,,,,only their family system is disturbed but that may not happen in the Pashtun society.

Girls schools issue is an issue of Pashtun society. Why it not happens in a non Pashtun society majority of these enemies of woemn education , the Taliban etc are so called Pashtuns unfortunately.

Hijab and BURQA is a serious issue. It stops the free movement of women in Pashtun society and they always need a Pashtun man to guard them. Once the Pashtun women come to streets with out hijab, at least their faces open ,the Pashtun men curiosity will be satisfied and hen it will become a normal scene for them to see women as in Panjab or west or other Islamic countries like Malysia or Turkey.

Similarly evidence and inhiritance are basic issues. Pashtun women must get their iqual share in inheritance for their economic independence and they may not need to bring 4 witnesses to show they are violated and two Pashtun women may not be equal to one man in evidence. Here we need religious reformation or reinterpretation of Quranic injunctions.

ARTICLE CONCLUDED

[شمله ور خراساني]

Basically in every thread you post your "articles" you preach against Shari'ah.

Are you Muslim?

[Badlun]

This thread is dedicated to Pashtun women problems and their solution. Your contribution to the thread will be highly appreciated.

However your question is indirectly related to the topic as I suggest the religion( faith+worship+ morality) only for Pashtun women while for other aspects of life they can take guidance from other secular sources and this will be a great step towards the solution of the problems of Pashtun women.

For culture and society they can get inspiration from Pashtunwali. They should get modern education instead of the centuries old madrassah education etc. Democracy is the best political system and western economic system based on liberalism and controlled capitalism can be the ideal economic system.

By the way to reply to your question directly , I am Muslim by religion only not by culture, politics, economy , society etc. We can discuss it ifurther in the section on religion please.

[شمله ور خراساني]

This thread is dedicated to Pashtun women problems and their solution. Your contribution to the thread will be highly appreciated.

However your question is indirectly related to the topic as I suggest the religion( faith+worship+ morality) only for Pashtun women while for other aspects of life they can take guidance from other secular sources and this will be a great step towards the solution of the problems of Pashtun women.

For culture and society they can get inspiration from Pashtunwali. They should get modern education instead of the centuries old madrassah education etc. Democracy is the best political system and western economic system based on liberalism and controlled capitalism can be the ideal economic system.

By the way to reply to your question directly , I am Muslim by religion only not by culture, politics, economy , society etc. We can discuss it ifurther in the section on religion please.

Democracy is the best political system? What do you know about democracy? Is this your pulpit where you can preach your religion freely without being challenged?

If you are so convinced of your faith and religion, let me ask you a few questions:
what is democracy?

In fact, you know what, I am going to open a thread where you can answer these questions.

[Roshina]

God bless you, Osho, for your views! Please keep it up!

Democracy is the best political system? What do you know about democracy?

What do YOU know about democracy, wrora?

Is this your pulpit where you can preach your religion freely without being challenged?

Interesting. Did you know that the political system created by Prophet Muhammad is argued to be have been a democratic one? Did you know that the western concept democracy (as practiced in the west and not when the west dominates/controls the east) is far more Islamic than the political systems in ANY Muslim country? Particularly the U.S. constitution -- which gives citizens the freedom of, among many things, religion -- is far more Quranic than a Muslim might like to think?

If you are so convinced of your faith and religion, let me ask you a few questions:
what is democracy?

Umm... well, democracy = people control their state/country. As in, no dictator or monarchy, but the citizens (majority) elect their ruler -- in other words, it's not hereditary. Democracy guarantees all people, REGARDLESS of their religion and gender, equal rights (political, economic, social, etc.). Now, whether all countries that claim to be democratic actually DO this or not is a whole different story. But since you asked what democracy is, I figured I should give my thoughts.

In fact, you know what, I am going to open a thread where you can answer these questions.

I'm with Heratigirl here... When you create this thread, please post the link here so we can see and participate in it, wrora. Dera manana.

[Roshina]

^You should respond to him in the thread created rather then here.
http://pashtunforums.com/showthread.php?t=735

Thanks, Kandahary!