#save afghanistan from taliban

[djuvlipen]

Every hour, a woman in Afghanistan loses her life during childbirth

It was midnight when another wave of pain struck. Begum, 35, thought it was finally time for her child to be born, but there were no signs of the baby coming.

“I woke my husband and told him to get a car to go to a hospital. He rented one from our neighbours,” Begum said.

The mother of four travelled while in labour from Ridkhord area in Badakhshan’s Zibak district to the Shahid Ustad Burhanuddin Rabbani Hospital in the provincial capital Faizabad.

Her fifth child, struggling to be born, did not survive the journey.

Begum lived, but many mothers in similar circumstances do not.

Abdullah is currently waiting to hear if his wife will survive their child’s birth.

He and his wife, residents of the province’s Yafta-e-Bala area, came on foot to the central hospital in Faizabad when their baby was due to be born.

“In Yaftal-e-Bala, there are four health centres. However, because of inadequate medical facilities and no doctor available, we had to walk for four or five hours to Faizabad for delivery,” Abdullah said.

“We encountered many challenges along the way, but I couldn’t do much until we reached the hospital.”

Doctors said that because his wife had walked a long distance, it led to severe bleeding and possibly harmed the baby in the womb.

“The mother’s condition is not good and there is little hope for the baby to survive,” Abdullah said doctors told him.

Afghanistan’s deadly statistics for mothers

According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) report, each day 24 mothers and 167 newborns in Afghanistan lose their lives due to complications in pregnancy and childbirth.

It’s the highest rate in the world.

“The condition of mothers is highly alarming, particularly for those who travel from remote areas and cover long distances,” a specialist at the Shahid Ustad Burhanuddin Rabbani Hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Having worked in Badakhshan for 22 years, the doctor said that the shortage of healthcare services, especially in remote areas, leads to significant health risks for women.

He recalled a patient who arrived at the hospital from Darwaz district about a month ago after travelling for three days.

“Due to the long journey, the patient’s womb had ruptured along the way, leading to the loss of the baby. The doctors only managed to save the mother’s life with great difficulty,” he said.

Discrimination leading to more deaths

There are concerns the situation is only getting worse as the Taliban place more restrictions on women’s mobility and access to support, and the weakened economy sees healthcare facilities struggle to deliver services.

The WHO reported that in 2023, about 428 health centres were closed because of budget constraints.

Dr Suraya Dalil, WHO’s Director of the Special Programe for Primary Health Care and former Minister of Health in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2014, said that Afghanistan has become one of the most perilous countries for mothers due to insufficient healthcare resources.

Dr Dalil told Rukhshana Media that the Taliban’s discriminatory policies make women more vulnerable in accessing healthcare.

“There is a regime in Afghanistan that systematically discriminates against women. For instance, a few months ago, a directive was sent to the central hospital in Ghazni province stating that women without a male companion would not receive treatment,” she said.

“Similarly, in Herat, a directive was issued prohibiting ultrasound services for women at the central hospital.”

She said that ultrasound examinations are crucial for diagnosis and timely treatment decisions, services that have unfortunately been restricted for women.

Recently, the Taliban supreme leader issued an order for all female employees to receive a reduced monthly salary.

“Recently, we’ve witnessed female employees being allocated a monthly salary of only 5,000 afghanis (US$70), disregarding their rank, experience, and job responsibilities solely because they are women. This is systemic discrimination,” she said.

“The impact of the Taliban’s actions on women extends beyond just health issues. It has multidimensional implications.”

Health professionals strike over reduced salaries

This month several doctors, nurses, and midwives in Kabul hospitals staged a strike in protest of this decision by the Taliban leadership.

At least four female doctors and staff from hospitals such as Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan, Shaikh Zahid, and Sehat-e-Tefl, speaking to Rukhshana Media,  said they cannot meet their basic living needs with the salary recently set by the Taliban for all female employees.

Homa*, a physician at Wazir Mohammad Akbar Khan hospital, said their protest lasted only three hours after the hospital’s Taliban-appointed director dispersed them with threats.

Orphaned children left to raise each other

Hanifa, 21, a resident of Sarjai area of Panjab district of Bamyan province now takes care of her two younger sisters and two younger brothers after the death of their mother.

She said that there are no clinics in their village or nearby areas, which is why her mother had to give birth at home.

“My poor mother cried in pain, clutching her back, yet she continued to bake bread. With my father and two brothers away working on farmlands, there was no man at home. My mother, assisted by our neighbor, who was a local woman, gave birth at home,” she said.

“She always delivered her children at home and was used to it, but this time, one of the twins didn’t come out, and her bleeding was so severe that the entire house was stained with blood.

“After giving birth, my mother survived only two hours. Despite our efforts, we couldn’t deliver the second twin because there was no accessible vehicle, and my father wasn’t home to help us.

“When my mother realized her bleeding wouldn’t stop, she urged us to take good care of her daughter, who was a baby girl. She remained conscious for two hours, growing weaker with each passing moment until she eventually lost consciousness.”

Karima Sadiq* a gynecologist specializing in obstetrics in remote areas, said stories like these are increasingly common.

“Sadly, since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, I have witnessed a rise in maternal deaths during childbirth, particularly in villages and districts. Every 24 hours, 24 to 26 mothers are losing their lives during childbirth, highlighting a disturbingly high maternal mortality rate.”

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently reported that one-third of women in Afghanistan give birth without access to essential healthcare facilities, and only around 67 percent of deliveries in Afghanistan are supervised by healthcare professionals.

According to UNICEF’s report, it is recommended that pregnant women visit a doctor at least four times before delivery, but only a third of women in Afghanistan adhere to this recommendation.

UNICEF stated that that if a mother gives birth outside of a healthcare facility and without access to a skilled health professional, her life is significantly endangered.

Note*: Names are changed due to security reasons.

[hungriestofbears]

I'm so baffled that people genuinely think Israel is the biggest threat to the middle east bc Israel has never instigated a war (save ONE) they've always been attacked first.

AND did we just forget about the oppressive radical Jihad that kills all non muslims/apostates/ethnic minority groups?? And ALSO many Arab Muslims? And that fuels terrorism. The people of Afghanistan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and all these countries deserve better from their governments and freedom from terrorists groups. Are the Taliban the 'resistance' when they ban women from speaking? God, if the Taliban bombed Israel the antizionists would be like "maybe the Taliban is based" "actually the people of Afghanistan should fear the IDF more than the Taliban" "the Taliban represents the people's resistance actually"

[gryficowa]

Isn't it fascinating to see liberals blaming everyone for feeling in four years what Palestinians have felt for 70 years?

Well listen, karma is a bitch, you treated genocide as a "minor issue", now at least you will experience it for yourself, don't blame the leftists, blame yourself, because the fault was your ignorance and the desire to maintain your privilege at the expense of others

This will last four years, what the Palestinians have been going through has lasted almost 80 years, ignorance is bliss but reality will hit you harder when it comes to you

It's not the leftists' fault, you're just dealing with the consequences of your ignorance

Recall that the US did not stop the holocaust when it started, and only two years after the Third Reich attacked Poland, think of all the people who could have been saved but were not because of America's ignorance, think of the Palestinians, Lebanese, Syrians and Yemenis what could have been saved, but the democratic party preferred to help Israel all year round

Think of the women of Afghanistan who wouldn't have had to deal with the Taliban now if Biden had stopped Trump's bill (instead of postponing it a year later) related to the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan

You ignored it because it was the blue party, now your love for them has bitten you in the ass and you're going to face the shit these people have been dealing with for much longer than you want to think

[cicidarkarts]

In Idrees character bio or something it calls him the grey rat of his family. Do you think you can expand more on his family. I think that he does have an uncle shown in one of scenes with him but I want to know if you think more on idrees actual family. Do you think he had siblings? Did he have any sisters? What influenced him to join the Taliban?

So I have a ton of thoughts on little Idrees and what his home life was like. Before we get into all of that depressing shit, let's see a cute sketch of little Idrees :3

Baby 😭😭 And I'm not going to lie. I don't know what the grey rat of the family means. I'm not very good with Google (some of y'all are wizards) so my results didn't yield much fruit. However, I can make an educated guess by the description of "insignificant and useless", and various other idioms like black sheep and white crow, to mean he's an outcast. Unusual, doesn't fit in, either overlooked in the best case or used as the family scapegoat in the worst case. He was neglected and, imo, very abused. Much more info below the cut tw: child abuse, domestic violence (violence against women and children)

CiCi hand jumpscare. Found this lil dude at a Halloween party and had to have him :3 He sits on my desk now I think Idrees was the only male child in a long line of girls (I think 3 sisters). Because of this, he was held to impossible standards as a child, with particularly toxic male attitudes of what a man "should" be in the highly patriarchal and sexist culture of Afghanistan. But Idrees struggled to be what his father/baba wanted him to be. He was bookish, scrawny, meek, and averse to violence.

"You wasted my time, teaching me things of no worth."

His baba would never be proud of him for book learning. Being intelligent didn't save him from the wrath of his baba's iron fist. That's why I think he made this "teaching me things of no worth" comment. To Idrees, all of the knowledge he accrued amounted to absolutely nothing in the eyes of his baba. I like to think he was actually extremely intelligent, working at grade levels quite above his own, as Idrees would bury himself in studies as a way of escapism. He could get praise and adulation from Nurullah and his other teachers that he couldn't get elsewhere. From a young age, Idrees was witness to his baba's volatile behavior. His baba would fly off the handle at the slightest provocation, very clearly a product of the culture of his own shitty upbringing. He kept Idrees, Idrees' sisters, and his mama under his boot, and would commit violence against Mama jaan, who got the worst and most of it. When Idrees was about 8-years-old, witnessing Baba going off on Mama jaan yet again, he jumped in to help her. This was the first of a long bout of physical abuse he endured (and my headcanon as to how his tooth got chipped). Excerpt of how I think this played out found below.

His lil chipped tooth cute as hell tho

He never did anything right in the eyes of his father. Idrees didn't like to engage in violence and was seen as cowardly. Idrees kept to himself and was seen as weak. If he ever stepped out of line of what boys and men are supposed to do, his father would attempt to demean him by calling him a little girl. He was never allowed to be his authentic self. Eventually this spilled over to the rest of the family. Idrees became a scapegoat, and his family avoided him or joined in on the abuse just to appease their baba. Mama jaan tried to pretend he didn't even exist, as any time she came to Idrees' defense, she would be "put back in her place". It became easier to turn a blackened, blind eye. His baba was a Talib. Of that, I have no doubt. Naturally, Idrees would also join the Taliban, in an effort to prove that he was just as capable, just as much of "a man", as Baba. But the violence often inflicted on civilians and women scared him, and his baba became more and more disgusted with this as time went on. Idrees has never been able to discover who he actually is. As a person. As a man. It seemed no matter what he did, he fucked up. Baba always harped on about how much of a disappointment and a failure Idrees was. And Idrees started to believe it. Since defecting from the Taliban, fleeing the violence and the war and his terrible life, Idrees was left to pick up his pieces. He cut his fingers trying to solve the puzzle. Fear has kept him from finishing it, leaving an incomplete picture with pieces that don't seem to fit, his blood smeared across the rest. Even after the war claimed his father and uncle, their marks and bruises remain, tender to the touch. It's all too easy for Idrees to press on these bruises and feel their sting once again. All too easy for him to believe he deserves it.

Excerpt (~1k words & 4 min reading time; tw: graphic depictions of violence against women and children): With a sick pit in his stomach, Idrees recalled one of the many times his mother had been working to the bone. Their crappy little clay and brick home sweltered through the summer heat. The plain salt and pepper and cumin smells of his mama’s cooking wafted through the thick air, interspersed by his sisters arguing over something he didn't really understand (boys or their shared clothes).

Not that he cared to understand. As a young child, hardly eight years old, he threw himself into his studies. Stacks of books enveloped him as he lay on his stomach in his corner of the room, skimming over the same words he'd been trying to take in all afternoon. The quiet peace of school allowed him to concentrate but the chaos of his home was altogether different—distracting, soul-crushing.

The only refuge was his invisibility. If they ignored him, they didn't yell at him. If they didn't yell at him, he could project himself into his own world for a while. A world that soothed his weary mind with bright blue skies, fresh loam, clean running water, surrounded by people who didn't hate his guts.

That illusion shattered when he smelled burning. His mother cursed aloud; pots and pans banged and scraped. Bile rose up in his throat. He swallowed it down, trying to ease his trembling, sweaty hands as they closed his textbook.

“Baba will be home any minute,” said his eldest sister, voice laden with nerves. “This is all your fault,” his youngest spat.

He watched as his youngest and middle sister fought again over who was to blame. But even as the youngest of all of his siblings, he was well aware that Mama would be the one to catch Baba's ire. All of the bickering halted when the door opened. His sisters backed off as Mama tried to salvage what she could, her arms moving wildly as she stirred and scraped the pot.

Baba's large, imposing form stood in the threshold of the door, blotting out the light of the gleaming sun. His scraggly stubble wriggled alongside his nose as he sniffed the air. Those frigid blue eyes stared like ice into the back of Mama's head.

“Woman,” Baba demanded, slamming the door shut, “can you do nothing right?” “I'm sorry,” Mama pleaded. “I was distracted, I didn't mean to—” “Shut up! Spare me your excuses. I work hard all day and you can’t even have a decent dinner ready for me when I get home.” “I’m sorry,” Mama apologized again—but no matter how many sorrys she chanted, they fell on deaf ears. Baba approached her, his dark eyes sending chills down Idrees’ spine. “You know what happens when I don't come home to a hot meal.”

Idrees and his sisters kept their distance. His sisters hid behind their hijabs, shielding their eyes from what was to come. Idrees normally shut his eyes, too. He would clap his hands over his ears and internally recite words from his textbooks. But today, seeing his mama's defeated, horrified eyes watching his baba, something else bubbled up from deep within him.

Baba hurled a fist into Mama's face. She crumpled to the floor, disoriented, huddling down to protect her stomach. That bubbling thing erupted out of Idrees like a volcano. He threw himself in the way of the second hit, blocking Mama with his body. Baba’s knuckles connected with Idrees’ shoulder, heavy and excruciating like he’d been fighting another man and not his defenseless wife. Idrees flinched but kept himself between them, arms outstretched to keep Baba away from her.

“Stop it, Baba!” he cried. “What do you think you're doing, you little rat?” Baba spat. “Shouldn't you be reading your stupid books?” “Just leave Mama jaan alone!” “Idrees,” Mama cooed, grabbing his shoulder. “You don’t have to—” “No, no,” said Baba with a horrific chuckle. He gazed down at Idrees with his crooked teeth displayed in a malicious smirk. “Let him. If he thinks he can defend women, let him try. Go ahead, boy. Hit me. Be a man for once.”

Idrees’ heart thrashed like a terrified cornered animal in its cage. Baba was huge and plump from Mama's cooking. He stood with his belly exposed, laughing like it was a big joke. Idrees knew he was scrawny and unthreatening, arms like little twigs—something he’d been demeaned and berated for all his life. But he threw back a little fist and bashed it into Baba's gut as hard as he could. Baba let out a grunt behind his clenched teeth.

One of his sister’s gasped, then everyone went silent. The stillness of the house made goosebumps race up Idrees’ arms. His father's nasty, horrible glare burned into his memory—chilling eyes, teeth bared, staring into Idrees’ soul like a wrathful god.

He didn't say another word before slamming his large knuckles into Idrees’ mouth. One of his rings cracked against Idrees’ teeth, sending shocks of pain throughout his skull. Idrees staggered but before he could either fall or catch his balance, another hit battered his eye.

Things went black. His ears rang, muffling Mama begging for Baba to stop. When his senses returned, he was on the floor, his mouth flooded with coppery blood, his left eye swelled shut.

“Let that be a lesson to you, boy,” Baba said as he trudged away to his usual spot. “Women aren't even worth the blood you'll spill.”

He shouted orders at his sisters and demanded his mother get food to him in thirty minutes, “or else”.

Idrees was left to pick up the pieces of himself, his Mama only able to give him a tear-filled look before being forced to work. Idrees quivered to his feet, ears still ringing, mind bleary. Despite the room spinning, he tried to help clear out the burnt food. The second his hand touched a rag, Baba demeaned,

“What do you think you're doing, rat!? Are you a man or are you a little girl!?”

He stumbled away, logical thought slowly dissipating from his disoriented mind. He tried to get to his corner where textbooks and stories awaited him. His legs were so heavy like they were weighed down by boulders. He fell to his knees as pinpricks dotted his peripherals.

Somehow, he was able to cast the weakness aside, crawling toward his turrets of books. He hid himself away and was, by the grace of Allah, ignored for the rest of the night.

[be-gay-find-cryptids]

(Part 1) Underrated Recommendations for Film & TV

1. Wolfwalkers (Film, 2020)

Wolfwalkers follows the story of Robyn Goodfellowe, a young apprentice hunter who arrives in Ireland with her father during a time of superstition and magic to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to turn into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh's missing mother, Robyn uncovers a secret that draws her further into the enchanted world of the Wolfwalkers and risks turning into the very thing her father is tasked to destroy.

2. Reservation Dogs (TV, 2021)

Reservation Dogs follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who steal, rob, and save in order to get to the exotic, mysterious, and faraway land of California. To succeed, they will have to save enough money, outmaneuver the methheads at the junkyard on the edge of town, and survive a turf war against a much tougher rival gang.

3. The Breadwinner (Film, 2017)

Parvana is an 11-year-old girl who lives under Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2001. After the wrongful arrest of her father, Parvana cuts off her hair and dresses like a boy to support her family. Working alongside a friend, she soon discovers a new world of freedom and danger. Drawing strength from the fantastical stories she invents, Parvana embarks on an epic quest to find her father and reunite her family.

4. Carol & the End of the World (TV, 2023)

With a mysterious planet hurtling towards Earth, extinction is imminent for the people of the world. While most feel liberated to pursue their wildest dreams, one quiet and awkward woman, Carol, stands alone—lost among the hedonistic masses.

5. Infinity Train (TV, 2019)

The series is set on a gigantic, mysterious and seemingly endless train traveling through a barren landscape, whose cars contain a variety of bizarre, fantastical, and impossible environments. Passengers on the train proceed from car to car by completing challenges which help them resolve their psychological trauma and emotional issues. Every season of Infinity Train (referred to as a "Book", each with its own separate subtitle) follows its own storyline and set of characters, although some characters appear across multiple seasons.

6. Moral Orel (TV, 2005)

The series follows the titular Orel Puppington, a young, happy-go-lucky and naïve Protestant who showcases his commitment to God, while dealing with the cynicism of his abusive and alcoholic father, his lethargic mother, and the devoutly Protestant town of Moralton in which he resides.

7. Bee and PuppyCat (TV, 2013)

The series revolves around Bee, an unemployed woman in her early twenties, who encounters a mysterious creature named PuppyCat. She adopts this apparent cat-dog hybrid, and together, they go on a series of temporary jobs to pay off her monthly rent. These bizarre jobs take the duo across strange worlds out in space.

8. Tuca & Bertie (TV, 2019)

This animated comedy series explores the friendship between two 30-year-old bird women who live in the same apartment building. The buddy comedy features cocky, carefree toucan Tuca and anxious, daydreaming songbird Bertie as they live their lives in the metropolis of Bird Town.

9. Wander Over Yonder (TV, 2013)

The series follows Wander, a nomadic, helpful, and overly-optimistic intergalactic traveler and his best friend and steed, Sylvia the Zbornak, as they travel from planet to planet helping people to have fun, play, and live free, despite the continuing encroachment of Lord Hater, one of the most powerful villains in the galaxy, and his army of Watchdogs.

10. The Midnight Gospel (TV, 2020)

The Midnight Gospel revolves around a spacecaster named Clancy Gilroy, who lives on the Chromatic Ribbon, a membranous, tape-like planet situated in the middle of a colorful void where simulation farmers use powerful bio-organic computers to simulate a variety of universes from which they harvest natural resources and new technology. Each episode revolves around Clancy's travels through planets within the simulator, with the beings inhabiting these worlds as the guests he interviews for his spacecast. These interviews are based on actual interviews, with real audio sampled from Trussell's podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour.

[queenwendy]

It’s October 7th. I know I post a lot of pro Palestinian stuff and am vocally anti Zionist, but it seems wrong not to say something. A year ago, Hamas attacked Israel and killed over 1200 people and took 251 more hostage. 97 are still in captivity, with the rest freed or rescued. Of the 97 remaining, 33 are thought to be dead. That’s horrible. It’s awful. Hamas’s attack has rightfully been called barbaric.

So has Israel’s response. 41,788 people in Gaza dead, including over 16,000 children, and other figures report most of that 41,788 are civilian women (I never see figures on civilian men. Which eerily echoes Obama saying “enemy combatants” in my mind). Over 60% of Gaza is just ash now. And Gaza isn’t that big; only 139 mi^2, and crammed full of over 590,000 people back in 2017 (Israel, by comparison, is made up of 9,900,000 people, though I think that includes the 21.1% of arabs). That’s a far cry from proportionate, and I fail to see how bombing civilians and reducing schools and hospitals to ash saves hostages. Unless the argument is that it will scare Hamas into surrendering, in which case at best that’s total war and at worst state sponsored terrorism.

Now Israel is engaged in escalations with Lebanon and Iran. I don’t pretend to know any of the history there, so all I’ll say on that matter is that it’s scary. Very scary. I imagine it’s scary for Israelis, who don’t know when their families will be saved and see enemies on all sides. I imagine it’s terrifying for Palestinians, who have to watch their entire community be destroyed because a terrorist organization claiming to represent them committed an act of terrorism.

The whole situation is, as I alluded earlier, disturbingly similar to the USA’s war on terror. On 9/11 Al Qaeda killed 2,977 people. In response, the United States and her allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001, and we didn’t leave until 2021. Fucking 20 years. And the Taliban still won. 46,319 civilians were killed, and the US committed innumerable war crimes. Plus, the US killed Bin Laden in 2011, so we went on for another fucking decade after we got the guy. And that’s not to mention the Iraq War (2003-2011) where anywhere from 100,000 to 1,000,000 people died, because Bush lied about WMDs and Saddam Hussein.

Keep in mind, in Afghanistan alone the US killed just a few thousand more civilians than Israel has in 20 years; Israel has had just 1 year. And remember that this conflict didn’t start in 2023; it started in the 1940s when Israel became a state*

9/11 and October 7th were both awful tragedies committed by terrorist organizations. Israel and the United States are also both colonialist states that are more than happy to bomb the shit out of civilians under the justification of counter terrorism. October 7th was awful. The Hostages should be brought home and Hamas has to be stopped. But don’t let anyone fool you today that the Israeli government is somehow in the right because of that. We’ve seen similar countries pull the same shit for the last twenty years. Don’t be fooled.

The war has to stop. Not because I love islam (I don’t) or I hate jews (I don’t), but because civilians shouldn’t fucking suffer like that. Hostages have to be returned, bombs have to stop, and someone more fucking capable than me or Netanyahu or Yahya Sinwar or fucking Biden needs to get a god damn peace agreement through that will actually last.

A lot of my numbers on the current war in Gaza are from this very good article ny NBC. My figures on the US war on terror are from Wikipedia.

*Yeah I know a Zionist Israel only was able to come about because of WWII and the holocaust, and yes I know that only happened because of WWI and antisemitism, and that only happened because of centuries of antisemitism in Europe because of Christianity and the Roman Empire, and yes I know that’s an oversimplification and the chain of events goes back further. My point is that this whole history is a bloody nightmare of a political knot, but that even then the mass death of 16,000 children is fucking inexcusable, even when in response to the also inexcusable capture of 251 people. This isn’t a matter of who’s in the wrong, it’s a matter of degree of wrongness.

[antiporn-activist]

I'm personally not sure on what the best course of action is either.

I think that getting the information about what's led up to the current situation and the new laws, out to the public is important. It's not being reported on by my country's news (that I've seen), I found out about the change of laws online.

I'm not sure how much help it is, but writing to politicians to let them know that this is a grave concern of their country's citizens to see these women being erased from view and that we as citizens would like to see government work together with other governments to provide aid, protection, and liberation to the women of Afghanistan from the Taliban's chokehold.

I'm not sure how much else can be done as individuals. I would love any advice anyone else has about this issue myself as well.

If anyone has any links to organizations working to aid the women of Afghanistan, please share these so that those who are able to donate, can.

the US army was in Afghanistan for 20 years and spent $2 trillion, and when they left, everything went to what it was like before 2001.

the US is not going back in to save women. i don't see a diplomatic option. am i missing something?

[septembriseur]

I’m not directly involved in this, but one of the young men organizing it is a friend of several of my Afghan friends.

The full story and a news article discussing it are available at the link; here is the summary:

“Story: In a world where education is a priceless gift, one father's unconditional love and sacrifice shine through. Bashir Rezayi, a devoted father from Afghanistan, is determined to give his daughter, Shukria, the opportunity of a lifetime. After surviving a tragic suicide bomb attack on her class, Shukria's dreams of pursuing higher education seemed shattered. However, against all odds, she received a full scholarship to study medicine at the prestigious University of Lynchburg in Virginia.

Challenge: While Shukria's scholarship is a beacon of hope, there is a significant obstacle in her path. Due to the absence of a functioning US embassy in Afghanistan, she must travel to a third country, Pakistan, to obtain a US visa. With the lengthy visa process estimated to take up to ten weeks, time is running out for Shukria to secure her spot at the University of Lynchburg.

Solution: Bashir Rezayi, who has been unemployed since the Taliban regained power, is willing to go to great lengths to ensure his daughter's education. Despite the risks and challenges, he has decided to explore the option of selling one of his kidneys to cover the exorbitant costs of a black-market visa. Bashir's selflessness and determination embody the unwavering love of a father and the immense value he places on education.

Call to Action: We invite you to join us in supporting Bashir Rezayi's extraordinary act of love and sacrifice. By contributing to this campaign, you can help secure Shukria's future and enable her to pursue her dream of studying medicine at the University of Lynchburg. Every dollar donated brings her one step closer to covering the expenses of her visa, travel costs and cost of accommodation and ensuring that her scholarship is not lost.

Join us in this incredible journey of compassion and hope. Together, we can turn Bashir Rezayi's act of love into a powerful testament of the transformative power of education. Let us ensure that Shukria's dreams are not shattered but rather uplifted by the unwavering support of a global community.

Donate today and be a part of Shukria's remarkable story.”

[dertaglichedan]

CNN's Jake Tapper at center of defamation lawsuit as he prepares to host presidential debate

CNN presidential debate moderator Jake Tapper’s show is at the center of a defamation suit brought by a consulting company which alleges that the network and one of its reporters lied about the company’s work.

The network’s defense: CNN did not intend to harm and its language was “opinion or ambiguous.”

Tapper is set to co-host the first presidential debate next Thursday which is being hosted by his network. The host has come under scrutiny from former President Donald Trump, who is set to participate in the debate, for his partiality— calling him “Fake [Jake] Tapper.”

But, as the well-known CNN personality gears up for that debate he also finds himself in the middle of a lawsuit against his employer by security consulting firm Nemex Enterprises and its owner Zachary Taylor, who worked to help evacuate Afghanis following the chaotic Taliban takeover of that country.

"Jake Tapper started his career working for a Democrat politician and he has never been able to shake the habit. Trying to run cover for Biden's disastrous pullout from Afghanistan, he and his CNN show slimed a hero who saved the lives of those Biden put in jeopardy. Now CNN is facing a billion dollar defamation suit at the same time Tapper will be moderating the presidential debate featuring the politician he lied for. Unreal," Dan Schneider, Vice President at conservative media watchdog Media Research Center, told Just the News in a statement. His organization reported that CNN has since deleted the TV segment under scrutiny from its website. 

[usafphantom2]

Tap Title Bar To View Video ☝️

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The Senate has passed a bill intended to unblock Canadian aid in Afghanistan without amendment. The Criminal Code changes allow development workers to apply for exemptions from terrorism laws, which currently criminalize paying taxes to the ruling Taliban because it is designated as a terrorist group. Amendments from the Conservatives and NDP in the House of Commons also added a blanket exemption for humanitarian workers who are providing life-saving aid in response to emergencies. The passage of the bill by both chambers of Parliament comes more than a year after many of Canada’s allies issued exemptions for aid workers in their own terrorism laws. Some senators had expressed fears about how bureaucrats might enforce the bill, but the Senate gave unanimous consent to pass multiple stages of the bill all at once, ensuring it will become law before a scheduled summer break. [...]

Continue Reading.

Tagging: @politicsofcanada

[papirouge]

JK Rowling magicked up hundreds of thousands of pounds to save more than a hundred female lawyers and their families facing murder in Afghanistan. The Harry Potter author made her huge donation when Britain and America pulled out of Kabul at speed, leaving hundreds of women judges, prosecutors and defence counsel under threat from the Taliban. Along with a million dollars from businessman and philanthropist Lord Michael Hintze, plus large sums from other prominent figures and smaller donations from the public, it meant a total of 508 Afghans could be flown to safety. In a life-or-death cloak and dagger operation the female lawyers and their families had to hide in basements before they were smuggled to airports and flown to freedom.

ok forget when I said I didn't trust White feminists ; J.K Rowling the only White feminist that I trust lol

[strictlyfavorites]

On June 28, 2005, Lt. Mike Murphy lead a four-man Navy SEAL team, deep behind enemy lines in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan. The terrain was mountainous and rugged at an unforgiving altitude of 10,000 feet. Their mission was to conduct reconnaissance to find Ahmad Shah, the leader of a guerrilla group that aligned itself with the Taliban.

A fierce firefight erupted between the four SEALs and an enemy force of more than 50 anti-coalition militia. The enemy had the 4-man team outnumbered and the terrain advantage. They launched a well-organized, three-sided attack on the SEALs and relentlessly forced them deeper into a ravine.

Despite the intensity of the incoming fire and suffering several gunshot wounds, Lt. Murphy risked his own life to save the lives of his teammates. Determined to contact headquarters, but realizing it would be impossible in the extreme terrain where they were fighting, he unhesitatingly moved into the open to gain a better position for transmitting a call and get help for his men.

Lt. Murphy moved from cover and exposed himself to increased enemy gunfire. While continuing to be fired upon, he made contact with the SOF Quick Reaction Force and requested immediate assistance. At one point he was shot in the back causing him to drop the satellite phone. He picked it back up, completed the call and signed off saying, “Thank You.” He continued to fight from his exposed position until succumbing to his wounds. For his actions that day, Lt. Mike Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

[ughwhateveridek]

Blog 3

Butterfly Effect

"The flap of a butterfly's wings in Brazil can set off a tornado in Texas"

In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state.

This definitely has to be one of my favorite theories/phenomena of all times. The fact that something as simple and little as a butterfly flapping its wings can set off a whole tornado all the way on the other side of the world is mind boggling!

It really makes you think that everything, EVERY-TINY-THING we see or do or experience has a much bigger effect somewhere else in the world. Maybe you waking up late by a few minutes could imply the end of the world in the near future! That is baffling to think about!

The reason I love this theory is because it makes us feel like our actions really do matter and that we always have a purpose in life (even if we’re not always aware of it). However, this is a double-edged sword and works both ways: tiny events have the potential to change things for the better or to create a chain reaction that causes a catastrophe.

The biggest example of this has to be the origination of ISIS and the happening of 9/11 because a dog got killed in 1950's Texas.

A dog enters City Councillor Charles Hazard's yard. Hazard fed it food mixed with glass and the dog died.

Young Charlie Wilson (ex-dog owner) decided he's going to ruin Hazard's career. He organized people to vote against Hazard's re-election and succeeded. Bolstered by his success he began a career in politics, eventually becoming a state senator at the age of 27.

As a member of the House appropriations committee, Wilson lobbied for funds to bolster a group called the Taliban, fighting for the soviet-occupied Afghanistan.

The US pushed the money through Pakistan, so as to not be directly linked with actions against the Soviets.

Pakistan became the common training ground of all kinds of rebels and fighters, arming and training them to fight in Afghanistan. One of the people trained in Pakistan is a civil engineer, son of a Saudi billionaire, Osama Bin Laden.

Taliban forced the soviets out of Afghanistan, creating their theocratic religious state. Pakistan was just happy with the fact that they 'won'.

Al Qaeda planned and carried out 9/11, pushing their religious and political agenda in new and interesting ways. Apparently not interesting enough though, as two Al Qaeda members decided that flying planes into civilian cities isn't a bad enough thing they can do, so they broke off and began ISI, later renamed ISIL and ISIS.

It's honestly bewildering to think that such major and catastrophic events happened all because of a dog dying.

I remember reading about this woman who had a job interview at 9 a.m. but her alarm never went off. Till this day, she thanks all the Gods in the universe because she had her interview at The Twin Towers and that day was September 11, 2001, and the attack happened at 9:59 a.m.

And there you have it folks! From 9/11 being caused by a dog dying to a woman being saved because her alarm didn't go off. That's the butterfly effect!

[moviesessionwithmyhubby]

Guy Ritchie's The Covenant -Explained

It has been a while since my husband and I have had a night in to watch a movie together, so I decided to pick out the film for us to watch today; the title of the film is "Guy Ritchie's The Covenant."

The Covenant tells a story that unravels an incredible tale of survival, sacrifice, and redemption. It is a story about the strong bonds and deals made through blood, which can be described as a male melodrama.

The setting of the movie takes place in Afghanistan, where the United States is stationed, amidst the conflict with the Taliban. Rather than exploring the distinctions between who is right and who is wrong, military and political tactics, the director, Richie, emphasized the human morality during times of war. The film speaks to the immense sacrifice and the enduring pain that result from the war. The initial hour of this movie was an excellent war-action film, giving an immersive view of the dangers hanging over all involved. During the opening scene, John Kinley (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) and his team, who specialize in recovering explosives or weapons of mass destruction, are conducting roadside checks. During an attempt to get an Afghan truck driver to open his payload, the translator and two other soldiers were killed when a bomb was detonated. At this point, Ahmed (played by Dar Salim) makes his entrance and takes the vacant role. At first, it crossed my mind that Ahmed's motivation for accepting this job was purely financial gain and the opportunity to obtain a visa to the United States. But then, I came to realization that Ahmed shared the same goal as John Kinley in destroying the Taliban, as his son had been murdered by the group. The most crucial part of the movie is the last hour, which showcases two rescue missions carried out by Ahmed and John. This section of the film showcases superb cinematography, a spot-on score, and an exceptional music (I humbly pay respect to Christopher Benstead for his creation of Score - a magnificent and exquisite musical composition). The casting is also stellar, with outstanding performances by everyone, especially Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim. John's team was attacked by the Taliban, resulting in the deaths of almost all members except for John and Ahmed. John was severely injured and unable to walk or remain conscious. Despite the fact that it would have been easier for Ahmed to flee alone, he chose to stay with John. Ahmed made the decision to remain and carried John all the way back to the US troop. He had to avoid taking the trail or a car since it would be too conspicuous, and the Taliban could easily trace their whereabouts. Ahmed had no other option but to place John on a wooden trailer and pull it along a rough road, with only the bare essentials of food and drink. Ahmed did not abandon John even though they were in a dangerous situation and were being threatened by the Taliban. He made a commitment to John, saying "We are going home." My initial impression of The Covenant was that it was just a film about American exceptionalism; yet, with further inspection, I realized that it was much more than that. In spite of the chaos of war, Ahmed stood by John's side, refusing to abandon him in his time of need. However, despite his contributions and heroic actions in saving John's life, Ahmed found himself without any assistance from the U.S Army, he has become the top of the Taliban's list of targets, causing his family to run away in order to avoid danger. Upon Kinley's return to the US, he is unable to recall anyone or anything from his in Afghanistan except for a few fleeting memories and the recollection of Ahmed reassuring him, "We are going home." He began to experience feverish dreams that were chaotic and disorienting. The images were captured from unusual angles and the frames were alternately sped up and slowed down, creating a chaotic and overwhelming sensory experience.   “You think he blessed you. Well, he cursed me. I am the man who gets no rest.” - John Kinley This is the moment when John conversed with his wife. He does not believe that his survival is a result of God's blessings. He believes that he is under God's curse for abandoning the person who rescued him. Kinley gradually had a vague recollection of his experiences while suffering an injury. He can now recall how Ahmed put his own life in danger to rescue his. Then, in an effort to return his debt of gratitude, Kinley then started to make numerous attempts to obtain visas for Ahmed and his family in order to repay his debt of gratitude. But despite many phone calls from Kinley, the document and procedure were like pain in the ass. This shows how apathetic the system is toward Afghan translators. “I'm lying in this bed. I kiss my children before they go to school. And he's hiding in a hole somewhere. A hole he can never get out. The hole we put him in. And that wasn't the deal. The deal that we offered his family sanctuary. Then we tied a noose around his neck, and kicked the stool out from under him. I should be in this hole.” - John Kinley This situation is unjust and morally wrong. I have been thinking about the title of the movie, "The Covenant". What is the reason for the covenant? "The Covenant", which may also be translated as "the commitment" or "the promise." This commitment might be considered the unspoken connection that exists between Ahmed and Kinley. And for me, the word "commitment" holds great weight. It signifies more than just a written agreement signed with ink on paper; it represents a promise and an agreement that is sealed with blood. Ahmed fulfilled his obligation to this commitment; he made all effort possible and put his life in danger to save Kinley. But once he was saved, Kinley took a plane back to his house in the middle of the war, and Ahmed was left to face the consequences of the heroic deed he had performed by saving Kinley's life.  “That is not how this debt works. It demands a result, not an appeasement.” - John Kinley So, it is now Kinley's responsibility to save Ahmed and the rest of his family. Kinley makes his way back to Afghanistan with his wife providing moral support. He must fulfill his obligation under the covenant he signed with Ahmed, not through appeasement, but by returning and fulfilling his part of the covenant. “30 August 2021, the U.S Armed Force completed their departure from Afghanistan, marking the end of the 20-year long campaign. One month later, the Taliban seized back complete control. More than 300 interpreters and their families have been murdered for collaborating with the U.S military. Thousands more are still in hiding.” - Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant Through the narrative of Ahmed and Kinley, Ritchie describes a world in which the United States of America promises one thing, only to use up its ally and then cast them aside when they are no longer of any use to the United States. It's a tale that began unfolding around two years ago, when the United States withdrew its forces from Afghanistan, leaving behind a large number of collaborators who were at the mercy of the Taliban. In the bigger picture of director Ritchie, Kinley symbolizes the United States, Ahmed represents Afghanistan. Afghanistan fulfilled its obligations under the covenant, but in exchange it has gotten nothing but desertion from the United States. Did the war in Afghanistan come to an end when Kinley returned to the United States from Afghanistan? No, it has never stopped. Have people in Afghanistan like Ahmed, who collaborated with the U.S. army, been able to return to a peaceful and normal life? No, they have never had the opportunity.  “That is not how this debt works. It demands a result, not an appeasement.” - John Kinley For me, the movie serves as an emotional tribute to the selfless acts of Afghan interpreters and their family, emphasizing the significance of fulfilling the commitments made to them by the United States government. The film also effectively portrays the harsh reality of war, highlighting the brutality that both sides endure. There are no clear winners in such conflicts. And I personally believe that there is a hidden message conveyed throughout the film. If you noticed well, Afghans and even Taliban soldiers use an Arabic saying to greet each other. "As-Salaam-Alaikum". This is a common Islamic greeting that translates to “Peace be with you brother”. Peace. Peace. Peace. Throughout a movie about war, this greeting is frequently repeated that conveys the collective hope for peace and happiness among individuals of diverse races, countries, and religions.

[coochiequeens]

A nice story about women helping women

Inlate January of this year, the Biden Administration began "inviting ordinary Americans to help settle Afghan refugees in America." Dubbed the "Welcome Corps," the initiative asks citizens to support refugees financially and in all other ways e.g. providing food, clothing, secure housing, education, health care (including mental health care), transportation, employment, and hospitality. The new "private sponsorship initiative" experts suggest that at least five people are needed in order to "welcome" and successfully sponsor one Afghan refugee or an Afghan family in America.

I strongly disagree. In the case of my one, adopted Afghan granddaughter, Meena, at least twenty to twenty-five volunteers from around the world were essential in getting Meena and her family out of Kabul; and more volunteers joined our efforts along the way, including new and generous donors, and a new team of pro bono lawyers who are working on Meena's application for asylum in America.

Some of our initial team's volunteers, who worked for NGOs or for various European governments, were on salary but were not necessarily reimbursed for their time or efforts in this regard. Some had experience in anti-trafficking work and petitioned their governments to accept our women judges, doctors, lawyers, journalists, business owners, and artists—all of whom were women's rights activists. We gathered information from American ex-military service members, corporate honchos, and human rights activists. We had a narrow window of opportunity, about six months, until refugees from Ukraine began pouring into Europe.

"I had a group of feminist women who wanted to save me and my dreams, and they did."

Once I understood that Meena, a medical school graduate, had also worked in Afghanistan as a researcher and translator for an American-based professor, I haunted the poor man. Jean-Francois Trani came through brilliantly. Professor Trani obtained a student visa and a scholarship for Meena at Washington University in St. Louis—a very fine and a very expensive school. Her scholarship only covers tuition, nothing else, not rent, food, books, computer upgrades, school fees, an expensive mandatory health insurance policy ($2800.00 per year), toiletries, clothing—just on and on. What one needs in order to live and to devote oneself, full-time to study.

Meena writes: 

Mandy Sanghera, a London-based human rights activist and philanthropist, and myself literally worked around the clock for more than six months rescuing 400 other Afghan women. I had a paid assistant who created spreadsheets in order to keep track of the biographies and ID information for at least 100 women and who tried to keep our correspondence on Signal, WhatsApp, and email in order. In fact, Mandy and I are still inundated with pleas for help from Afghan women who are living in hiding and in terror.

One amazing woman (whom I cannot name) got Meena and many others out on planes. Three amazing men and one woman were in charge of food and medicine drops. They also delivered wood in winter and had a network of doctors who delivered babies and did surgical procedures when necessary. One woman served as Meena's mental health counselor. Another served as her English tutor. Those who read my articles up at 4W contributed money to a war chest which was used primarily by our former lawyer at a time when, unfortunately, the Biden Administration was granting only a handful of Humanitarian Parole applications.

More wonderful women joined us. One, Penny Wilson, donated her frequent flyer miles and her administrative expertise. Another long-time feminist colleague of mine, a retired professor of Literature, Lilia Milani, pledged to cover Meena's rent for the year. I named some more names in my previous piece here up at 4W.

Last month, I decided to bring as many members of this team together to finally meet Meena in person in my home. I thought they deserved to know her—and she them. The founder of 4W, MK Fain came—and indeed, 4W is where I posted almost all my articles and a good number of 4W readers sent funds. We zoomed in Meena's mental health counselor and the woman who got her on the plane, who was in Africa at the time.

The women who gathered were so excited to meet Meena—and she them. They took her sightseeing in Manhattan: On a walking tour of Grand Central Terminal, Rockefeller Center, Times Square—Macy's! I introduced her to my son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters and they took her to the Metropolitan Museum. I think a good time was had by all.

"We need to have an honest conversation about refugee education."

Penny suggested that we all go around the table, from oldest to youngest, and give Meena one piece of advice. And so we did. Penny brought a multitude of beautiful silk scarves, and we each got to pick one for ourselves. Meena got all the rest.

Mandy writes:

Meena has gotten all "A"s in her classes. She is now working for ten hours a week for a professor and may be allowed to work for a maximum of twenty hours but no more. This may— or may not—cover her food and toiletries.

Attached is a GoFundMe campaign for Meena. Please consider making a donation to support her ongoing expenses. It will help all of us to carry on. Meena will go the distance and make us all proud, but she needs financial assistance for legal filing fees, and for much else. These funds will go directly into her bank account. 

Oh—and what advice did I give Meena? I told her that she can thank me by freeing and supporting another woman.