How to Act in the Face of Taliban Oppression: Choosing Silence, Complicity, or Resistance
Throughout this month, the Taliban have been apprehending Hazara girls and women in Western Kabul, Bamiyan, and Daikundi, citing non-compliance with the group’s strict code of hijab for women. The scale of this month-long campaign is extensive, and the number of women arrested and disappeared remains unknown. The Taliban, primarily a Pashtun ethno-religious group, exhibit behavior fueled by an extreme interpretation of religious texts and ethnic animosity towards the Hazaras, who predominantly follow the Shiite sect of Islam. Shockingly, some Shia clerics have aligned themselves with the Taliban, acting complicitly.
Speaking truth to power
In the face of oppression, individuals can adopt one of three stances: speaking truth to power, remaining silent, or acting complicitly. While speaking truth to power is the highest moral and most courageous act, it comes with risks and potential costs, such as imprisonment or loss of life. An historical example is Nelson Mandela, who resisted Apartheid and faced imprisonment. South Africa mirrored Mandela’s stance in its recent Genocide Legal Case against Israel for the killings of Palestinians in Gaza in the International Court of Justice.
