Bahar Jalali, Ph.D., visiting associate professor of history at Loyola University of Maryland, was born in Afghanistan and specializes in the country’s history and culture. She started a online campaign for women’s rights in Afghanistan by wearing colorful traditional Afghan clothing in defiance of the strict Taliban dress codes for Afghan women. Jalali’s campaign has gained international attention, including from the BBC, CNN and Reuters.

She shares her expertise in a Q&A:

How did you work to support women in Afghanistan?

I was born in Afghanistan but left with my family as a refugee child after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. I have always been concerned about the plight of Afghan women. In 2009, I returned to Afghanistan to teach at the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF). I have helped women in several ways. First, I led an initiative to increase the number of female students enrolled in college, which was disproportionate to the percentage of male students attending college. I was able to help increase the percentage of women attending college to 50%.

Second, I was the Director of the Women’s Empowerment Program at AUAF to help ensure these students continue their education and graduate. I worked to help them overcome any challenges during their college experience. In 2015, I founded the first gender studies program in the history of Afghanistan. I offered the first classes in this area which helped create a safe space where students can not only learn but also discuss their own social challenges related to gender and gender discrimination.

I also visited the Women’s Prison to talk to young girls who have been incarcerated for running away from their homes, which is not a crime under the Afghan constitution. However, this has been called a “moral crime”. I have worked with international human rights lawyers to defend these innocent girls who resisted forced marriages and ended up in prison even though they were innocent and abused.

What do Afghan women traditionally wear and why is it important?

Afghan women traditionally wear bright and colorful dresses accompanied by different patterns from their respective regions. Many embroideries and ornaments believed to reflect their place of origin are usually adorned on these dresses. These dresses often include matching scarves worn lightly on the head. This outfit is more than just a fashion piece. It is part of the identity and heritage of every Afghan woman. These dresses represent their place of birth and ancestry. As such, they are an integral part of Afghan culture. Today, as the Taliban have seized power and are trying to transform the clothes of Afghan women by imposing outfits never seen before in the history of Afghanistan. There are fears that Afghan culture is under attack. Clothing is an integral part of heritage and identity because it is rooted in the history of Afghanistan.

How would you describe the real culture of Afghanistan?

Afghanistan is located at the confluence of four geographic areas: Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and the Far East via a border with China. It has been called the Heart of Asia. Therefore, the Afghan culture is very rich and diverse, reflecting the distinctive geography and ethnography of the country. As a multi-ethnic country with two official languages, Afghan culture is syncretic. It was once a major center of Buddhism. Afghanistan also had thriving Jewish, Armenian and Sikh / Hindu communities. Due to the recent Taliban takeover, the last remaining Jew was forced to leave the country. Thus, we have lost our Jewish community, which dates back centuries. Likewise, the last remaining Sikhs were evacuated to India after the Taliban seized power. We feel a tremendous sense of loss. Our fellow Afghan Jews and Sikhs were an integral part of Afghanistan. As a historically diverse land, the true culture of Afghanistan is at odds with attempts to impose Islamic fundamentalism and extremism in the country. That is why we have recently seen mass protests and demonstrations in the country against the imposition of the Taliban regime.

What are Afghan women going through at the moment?

Afghan women are currently experiencing violations of their basic human rights. The Taliban have banned girls from going to school and women from working. This makes Afghanistan the only country in the world where girls are not allowed to get an education. The Taliban government is made up of terrorists designated by the United States. Afghan women also face a humanitarian crisis. It is important to stress that Afghan women should not be abandoned because what is happening in the country is a fight for humanity and it cannot be just the fight for Afghanistan. It is the responsibility of the international community to put pressure on the Taliban and their sponsors in Pakistan to respect the human rights of Afghan citizens.

How can Americans help women in Afghanistan?

Americans should pressure the US government not to recognize the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The Taliban came to power by force. What is happening in Afghanistan is actually a Pakistani invasion by the Taliban, which is a proxy force. In this context, Afghan sovereignty, identity, culture and heritage are all under attack. What is happening in Afghanistan is not a civil conflict. It is an invasion by a neighboring country that has long fueled the desire to make Afghanistan a client state. Americans should pressure the Taliban to respect women’s rights. Humanitarian aid should be provided to the Afghans. Americans can also help by raising awareness of the plight of Afghan women through their social media platforms and by writing to their elected officials. Afghan women urgently need all kinds of help from the international community, big and small.