In a move against the Talibans intensifying oppression of women in Afghanistan, 21-year-old athlete Marzieh Hamidi has launched the #LetUsExist campaign. This initiative comes in response to the Taliban’s latest decrees, which further restrict women’s freedoms and essentially aim to erase their presence from public life. Hamidi’s campaign highlights the dire situation faced by Afghan women and girls, bringing the concept of gender apartheid to the forefront of global discourse. As a Taekwondo champion who grew up as a refugee in Iran and now resides in France, Hamidi’s voice carries the weight of personal experience and the urgency of the current crisis.

The Escalating Crisis in Afghanistan

The Taliban’s recent actions represent a chilling escalation in their systematic oppression of women. New decrees have banned women from showing their faces or speaking in public, deeming women’s voices too “intimate” for public spaces. These measures go beyond previous restrictions, such as the ban on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade, signaling a shift from limiting women’s opportunities to essentially denying their right to exist in public.

These oppressive policies have drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and activists worldwide. The global response has been swift, with many characterizing the Taliban’s actions as a form of gender apartheid. This term, once associated primarily with racial segregation in South Africa, is now being applied to the systematic oppression of women in Afghanistan.

#LetUsExist: A Call for Global Action

Hamidi’s #LetUsExist campaign represents a powerful response to the Taliban’s oppressive regime. Through social media, she has called on the global community to stand against gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Her tweet launching the campaign has garnered significant attention, amassing over half a million views and tens of thousands of reshares.

The evolution from the previous #LetAfghanGirlsLearn hashtag to #LetUsExist starkly illustrates the deteriorating situation for women in Afghanistan. What began as a fight for education has transformed into a struggle for women’s very existence in public spaces. This shift underscores the urgent need for international intervention and support.

The Impact of Gender Apartheid

The Taliban’s policies have far-reaching consequences for Afghan women and girls. Beyond the immediate restrictions on their freedom of movement and expression, these measures have profound psychological and social impacts. Women are being systematically excluded from public life, denied education and employment opportunities, and subjected to a form of oppression that threatens their basic human rights.

Shabnam Nasimi, Former Policy Advisor to the Minister for Afghan Resettlement and Minister for Refugees, eloquently captured the gravity of the situation: “It is barbaric to let women be erased from society in the 21st century.” This sentiment echoes the frustration and outrage felt by many around the world witnessing the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan.

The Push for International Recognition and Action

In response to the escalating situation, there is a growing movement to codify gender apartheid as an international crime. Lawyers and advocates argue that the systematic oppression of women, as exemplified by the Taliban’s actions in Afghanistan, should be recognized and punished under international law. This push aims to create a legal framework that can hold regimes accountable for egregious violations of women’s rights.

However, while these legal discussions proceed, Afghan women and girls continue to face the harsh realities of life under the Taliban’s rule. The urgency of their situation calls for immediate action and support from the international community.

Marzieh Hamidi’s #LetUsExist campaign serves as a powerful rallying cry against the gender apartheid imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. It brings global attention to the plight of Afghan women and girls, highlighting the urgent need for international action. As the situation continues to deteriorate, the campaign underscores the importance of standing in solidarity with those fighting for their basic rights and dignity.

The struggle against gender apartheid in Afghanistan is not just a women’s issue; it is a human rights issue that demands the attention and action of the global community. Hamidi’s courage in launching this campaign reminds us of the power of individual voices in the face of oppression. As the world grapples with how to respond to the crisis in Afghanistan, the #LetUsExist campaign serves as a poignant reminder of what is at stake: the very existence and dignity of Afghan women and girls.