Jalil Bidar
What happens when culture becomes a justification for restricting human rights? When the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021, girls and women once again faced severe restrictions on their access to education. The Taliban have defended these policies through appeals to Islam, Afghan culture, and national sovereignty. But can cultural difference justify the denial of a right that international human-rights law considers universal? The book study the tension between cultural relativism and universal human rights through the history of women’s education in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s first rule, the years between 2001 and 2021, and their return to power. It delves into the idea of cultural relativism, universalism, normative pluralism, and the right to education before going into the religious, cultural, and political arguments used to justify the restrictions. The book also explores Afghan women’s protests and resistance, underground and online education, media, NGOs, the United Nations, sanctions, diplomatic engagement, sovereignty, and how would the future look like for the international recognition of Taliban rule. Ultimately, Culture as a Shield argues that cultural relativism can help explain the Taliban’s worldview and the historical and religious context of Afghanistan, but understanding a justification is not the same as accepting it. Especially, when a government’s interpretation of culture is contested by its own people and multiple interpretations exist, culture cannot passively justify the denial of fundamental rights. Acknowledging the claims of the both sides, a broad but key questions is raised. How can universal rights be applied without ignoring cultural difference and how can cultural difference be respected without becoming a tool for human rights violations?
