US troops increase as local hero says no – Afghanistan’s Malalai Joya

Highlighting the ongoing struggle for women in a country that has lived through the Taliban and various country occupations, Malalai Joya has called for the corrupt Afghan government and its “American puppet” (Karzai) to be pushed out in a coordinated move to improve the state of the nation.

Regardless of the small, but real, hope created by Obama’s election win nearly one year ago, “There is now no hope for Afghan women,” continues Joya. “There is also no security for rights advocates. We need major change to happen. If women are to be the driving force for the future, they can be with help; by (a cooperative effort in) cracking down on the corrupt powers.”

Women and Afghan Law

Like the Taliban, Karzai has passed a series of legislations restricting women’s rights. “These laws are almost identical to the Taliban’s,” admits Malalai. “Some (laws) even say women cannot go out of their homes alone,” she presses. One recent controversial law requires women to have sex with their husbands whenever they desire or face punishment for disobedience. These and other laws have been approved by hardliner Shia cleric Ayatollah Mohseni, who has been influential inside Afghanistan in gathering a large Shia voting base. These votes were needed by Karzai during the election. “This is not the country promised to us. We are working hard to get through these struggles.”

“Many women in my country just don’t get any justice,” the former MP and women’s rights advocate reveals. “We continue to work hard to make our voices heard, but when we do, there are major security issues for us. We go to demonstrate and show our faces and our voices. Then, the militants and the government try to cut them off,” she outlines. “This is horrible and is the major problem. In the end, what are needed are not more American troops on the ground but an apology by Obama for the way the ‘so-called’ war on terror has progressed.”

President Barrack Obama is currently suffering from a swift decline in public ratings as he nears his final decision in U.S. policy actions for Afghanistan. “It is my intention to finish the job,” said the president. The policy may be rejected by most Americans though. Only 32 percent of U.S. citizens currently support a continued war in Afghanistan.

Recommendations made to enlarge troop numbers by the President’s top advisor, NATO Army General Stanley McChrystal, include plans to increase U.S. troop numbers by figures that may eventually top 40,000. As NATO members begin to doubt the efficiency of increased troop levels, other Obama advisors, like retired Army General Colin Powell and General George Casey Jr., counter McChrystal’s ideas with concerns that additional troops may not reach the budgetary or philosophic goals for improvements in Afghanistan.

“The Afghan people must protect themselves, but it’s a job that we’re not sure can be met,” admitted the President.

Former Afghan parliamentarian, Malalai Joya, does not agree that Afghanistan’s problems will never be solved. She believes Obama should not support Karzai and that improvements will only come by allowing agents inside the country, especially women, to redirect policy.

“He (Obama) must apologize for what has happened and end the so-called war on terror,” states Malalai. “Obama should not negotiate with the Taliban. We have international activists and women advocates. These are the people who must be supported. If they (can) do this slowly, democracy will come to Afghanistan and we will take responsibility for our own country.”
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[YouTube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7jAT0FAGBc]
As President Obama presses for more troop numbers, Afghan women’s rights are going backwards due to the rising influence of Sharia laws, Taliban extremism and the suffering of life under the ongoing conditions of war. Some former war lords (known as the Mujahideen) are also working closely with the Afghan parliament as cabinet members with direct ties to the Taliban. This searingly honest video tells of the rising attacks against women, increasing cases of domestic violence and the expanding loss for the rights of women inside Afghanistan as the U.S. military campaign continues and expands. This is a July 2009, 10:51 min, Rethink Afghanistan video production by BraveNewFilms.
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For additional information on this topic go to:

• “Situation of Women and Girls in Afghanistan,” ODUMUNC 2009 Issue Brief (UN ECOSOC – Economic and Social Council), Melodee Baines & Katie Foley
• “A Survey of the Afghan People – Afghanistan in 2009,” The Asia Foundation, 25 October, 2009
• “Addressing Gender-specific Violations in Afghanistan,” International Center for Transitional Justice, 23 February, 2009
• “Silence is Violence – End the Abuse of Women in Afghanistan,” UNAMA – United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and OHCHR – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 8 July, 2009
• “Afghanistan Report 2009 – Amplifying the Voices of Women in Afghanistan,” Women for Women International, 17 February, 2009

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Women News Network -WNN correspondent, Joseph Mayton, is based in Cairo, Egypt. He is also editor/founder for online publication, Bikya Masr, covering news from Egypt and the MidEast corridor. Joseph has also reported for The Guardian (UK), Middle East Times, The Middle East Magazine, The Media Line, Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, Newsweek Turkey as well as other publications.

Lys Anzia, of WNN, has also contributed to this report.
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Additional sources for this article include ReliefWeb, Oxford Research Group, CBS News, US CRS Report for Congress, US Department of State, Journal of International Women’s Studies, Handicap International, NATO – Afghanistan Report 2009, The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), Afghan Women’s Mission, The Nation, NY Times, Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs – Princeton University, Brave New Foundation – Rethink Afghanistan, Reuters News, CNN, Columbia University Press, Global Fund for Women, Governance and Social Development Resource Centre (GSDRC) and International Center for Transitional Justice.
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©Women News Network – WNN 2009

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