KABUL (SW) – The findings of Salam Watandar’s conversation with a number of female lawyers show that after the collapse of the Republic, they are facing security threats and economic problems.
Of these 26 lawyers, 19 have said that they cannot live in one place due to the security threats. In the meantime, 6 defensive lawyers have been able to get out of Afghanistan, but the other 13 are still inside.
Of the six female defense lawyers who have gone abroad from Afghanistan in the past two years, three have sought refuge in Pakistan, one in Iran, one in Turkey and the other in Germany. They have cited security threats by clients or inmates who have been abandoned by the regime and have cited economic problems as the cause of their migration.
Nurnsma, who has been a lawyer in the former government for six years, has dealt with civil, commercial, criminal, terrorist, drug and violence cases, said that prisoners who were released from the prisons have always threatened and harassed her. “Whether they were prisoners or non -prisoners whose cases ended at their disadvantage, they threatened us and gave our phone numbers to the Taliban to threaten us, insulted, and abused us.”
Zohreh Azizi is another lawyer who, in the past for five years, attributed various cases, including violence against women, offenses related to Bagram prisoners, and murder cases as the reasons for her concerns. She added that after the change of the regime and the release of the prisoners, the lawyers, especially those who have attributed the cases of violence against women, faced security threats.
Meanwhile, Rouhollah Qariizada, president of the Independent Association of the Afghan Defense Lawyer, told Salam Watandar that the association had 6,000 active members before the collapse of the Republic, of which 2,000 were female defenders, and with the establishment of the Islamic Emirate government, the association has been merged in the Ministry of Justice and female lawyers have also been sent home.
According to reports, female lawyers are now in poor security and economic situation, and only a small number have been able to go abroad. Qazizada said: “At present, the Independent Bar Association of Afghanistan does not exist as an independent entity has been created at the Ministry of Justice. A number of lawyers are threatened because many of the defensive lawyers worked in family cases and the number of people who were harmed by court rulings are now seeking revenge. Many ladies who were dealing with the affairs of the law, they are now in hiding.”
The cancellation of the female lawyers’ license and their unemployment has made some of them face economic problems.
Fareshta, a defensive lawyer who is now home and has no job, said many female lawyers were breadwinners of their families who are now unemployed and face economic problems.
“We still have the duty of running our family, just like the past through the practice of law, through the income we had, but now we have no income and hence facing troubles supporting the family.”
Wahida Harir, another female defense lawyer who is now home and has no job, said: “A number of female lawyers left the country and are not not in good shape. There are many problems, such as economic, social, cultural and non -economic problems. For example, my law office, which was my only source of income, has been closed.”
The female defender’s attorneys said that they have referred to justice institutions to obtain a law permit or renew their licenses, but the Ministry of Justice has not allowed them that.
A number of female lawyers say that they have been forced to leave the country illegally because of security threats and economic problems, and now live in bad conditions in the second country.
Fazlah Mansouri, a female defender who now lives in Iran, said she was facing many threats in the country and although she had changed her contact numbers, but she was still threatened. “The threats always followed, even though I changed my numbers, they would still reach me. They even came to our house, they had found our house. Although I was threatened, I went to the house of one of the relatives.”
Fatana Hakimi, another female defense lawyer who now lives in Turkey, said: “Unfortunately, we have endured a lot of problems with my family.”
On the other hand, a number of female lawyers say that in addition to security threats and economic problems, they have mental illnesses. Nazia (pseudonym), a defense lawyer, said: “I definitely have to go to a psychologist every month because I am facing stress.” Zahal (pseudonym), another lawyer, said: “In addition to the economic problems, we have psychological problems, depression, and so on.”
However, Abdul Rahim Rashid, spokesman for the Supreme Court, said the Ministry of Justice is working on how the female lawyers can practice. “Until now, the relevant bill has not been passed, and after completing the bill and the implementation of the procedure, it would be clear whether or not women lawyers can work. This issue is related to the Ministry of Justice. ”
However, Ansarullah Ibrahim Khail, a spokesman for the Supreme Court, rejected the claim of the Supreme Court, saying: “The issue of women’s work and education in government agencies has not been clear so far, and after the decision of the Honorable Islamic Emirate officials, the Ministry of Justice, in turn, will execute that. Let me tell you that, however, with the regard to the female lawyers, there is no such proposal around.”
With the establishment of the Islamic Emirate, women have lost much of their social rights, including the right to work and education, and it is not yet clear when these rights will be returned to back to them.
ENDS
