The heavy lock with the iron chain, with which the Taliban closed the gate to the Herat women’s prison, was not opened until the third attempt this afternoon. “We have 80 women here alone,” says prison chief Muhammed, looking proud. “They are accused of various offenses, including illegal relationships.”
When the gate is opened, a sad picture emerges. Fully veiled women, scared, some are crying, others look at the floor in shame. You are at the mercy of the Taliban. And know: in the worst case, you may even be stoned!
We ask the prison chief, who fought for decades as a soldier for the Taliban, what exactly the women are accused of, what “illegal relationships” are supposed to be. All he says is: “We live according to the Sharia!”
Who decides on the punishment? “A judge!”
The Taliban have been in power in Afghanistan for more than three months. In autumn they promised the world that, unlike in the 1990s when they last ruled the country, women would NOT be brutally oppressed, schools would remain open and women would be allowed to work.
Reality shows: the promises are worth nothing.
Most of the schools are still closed for girls aged 12 and over, allegedly due to a lack of female teachers. We can only reach an activist who had fought for the opening of schools on the phone. She says: “I received several death threats and fled Herat. We’re all scared! “
Fear is what worries many women, even when they just want to go out on the streets, go shopping, meet friends. They can be stopped anywhere.
In the women’s prison in Herat they lead us through the cells, up to 20 women in one room, they are not allowed to talk.
Neaz is the guard here, she says: “The situation in prison is better than under the old government because everyone is now wearing hijab and receiving an Islamic education!”
Photo: Giorgos Moutafis
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/gefaengnis-aufseherin-neaz-41129f5012d2446cb5a7cd81d45eb994-78514076/Bild/8.bild.jpg”/> Prison Guard NeazPhoto: Giorgos Moutafis
Every day judges would come to jail and work on the cases. “If both sides who have had illegal relationships with each other are unmarried, then they must marry immediately and be set free. If one of the women has a husband and has entered into an illegal relationship, we ask the husband what the punishment will be. Believe me: everyone here is very happy that the Islamic emirate has taken over and that everyone gets their rights. “
Photo: Giorgos Moutafis
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/eine-verzweifelte-frau-im-frauengefaengnis-der-taliban-0cad7579dc0c488d893624f5386f42c5-78514544/Bild/7.bild.jpg”/> A desperate woman in the Taliban women’s prisonPhoto: Giorgos Moutafis
The women who sit veiled in their cells or stand together in the hallways do not look happy. But if they did talk, things would get worse.
Fazila (35, lawyer), on the other hand, wants to talk, even if it is life-threatening for her. We meet her in a secret place.
Fazila also worked as a lawyer with women in prison – until the Taliban banned women from working as lawyers.
“The Taliban told me to stay at home, I couldn’t work. Now I’m on the run. “
Photo: Giorgos Moutafis
“data-zoom-src =” https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/bis-zu-20-frauen-muessen-sich-im-frauen-knast-der-taliban-eine-zelle-teile-reden- are-not-allowed-6ef8d946c0b44289bddaab3b24e00c64-78514540 / image / 7.image.jpg”/> Up to 20 women have to share a cell in the Taliban’s women’s prison. They are not allowed to talkPhoto: Giorgos Moutafis
Photo: Giorgos Moutafis
Photo: Giorgos Moutafis