Veiled Threats : The Hidden Power of the Women of Afghanistan

by Sally Armstrong

The women of Afghanistan lived a five-year nightmare under the Taliban regime. In Veiled Threat, Sally Armstrong introduces several of these women — including the interim minister of women’s affairs, Dr. Sima Samar — who describe the living hell they experienced as well as the quiet rebellion (clandestine schools for girls and health clinics for women) that took place in an effort to subvert the Taliban’s hateful edicts. One of the first Western journalists to visit Afghanistan, Armstrong provides an insider’s view of the plight of women there. She also reviews the ebb and flow of women’s rights in Afghanistan, and accuses the Taliban and other fundamentalist leaders of distorting Islam for political opportunism.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Religion, Womens, Book Club, Politics, Middle East

Hardcover

First published June 1, 2002

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to learn more about the women of Islam, then you must read this book!

[Ophélie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cet ouvrage est malheureusement encore d’actualité. Sally Armstrong est une journaliste engagée et empathique, et cela se ressent tout au long du roman. Cet ouvrage est infiniment triste, mais en même temps rempli d’espoir grâce aux femmes afghanes qui refusent de se laisser abattre par un régime injuste.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Armstrong’s book discusses the plight of women and girls in Taliban controlled Afghanistan at the turn of the 21st century. Armstrong’s book enlightens the reader giving a brief overview of Afghanistan throughout the centuries in order to provide us with a picture of the country at the time of writing. Sally Armstrong is often thought of being a national hero for helping to bring the story of these women to the world, however the true heroes of Armstrong’s book are Dr. Sima Samar and her peers who fought for women’s rights from under the Taliban’s rule. I have long believed that the strength of a nation is based on how women are treated, educated etc. and this book confirms that. Oppression of a people (not just women) is due to a lack of education and ignorance. Armstrong does not blame Afghanistan’s situation on Islam (as many do) but on the sect of illiterate men who have been brought up in a sect of hatred and oppression that ultimately has nothing to do with the teachings of the Koran. I am looking forward to reading the next book “Bitter Roots, Tender Shoots.”

[Natalie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonder read, especially for someone not familiar with Afghan history. I learned so much about the conditions of their women and other citizens during he Taliban occupation, and what could be improved since. The book was published in 2001, I think so not so up to date, but an incredible resource for those looking to get accurate info on what life was like for a woman living in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The women of Afghanistan suffered, fighting against the Taliban government for years. The book Veiled Threat by Sally Armstrong gives a great example on this. She introduces many of the women that went through this tragedy. Armstrong shares her experience when she traveled to Afghanistan to be a UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.) special representative of Afghanistan. Armstrong also gives us background knowledge about the government in Afghanistan, and what the Koran actually says about women. Armstrong stands up for women’s rights, and calls out the community for agreeing with women’s oppression in the civilization. The women she introduces in the story tells us everything that is wrong with the government and how it affects the women in Afghanistan. Dr. Sima Samar explains that the women have made secret schools for the little girls and they have made unknown medical centers for women because they were not provided one. This was an effort to sabotage the Taliban's repulsive commandments.

“Women will stay home,” the mullah raged. “Women will not work.” The mullah was now decreeing the schools for girls would be closed immediately. Health clinics were also to be closed to women and girls. There would be no television, no radio, no singing, no dancing, clapping, no kite flying, no toys for children. This is a scene in chapter 1, House arrest. This scene shows that the laws were becoming outrageous. Women could only leave their house if she had a permit giving her reason to be outside. The cruelty in this world hurt and broke apart families because of women’s rights, and Sally Armstrong shows it very well in this book.

[Debbie Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an educational read for me. I learned so much about the women of Afghanistan.

[Mckayla Brush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright colorful towns, rolling farmland, and having basic rights are all that's known in the United States. Such peace and perfection can be found all around the world, or so I thought. "Veiled Threat" by Sally Armstrong is a powerful, mind blowing book containing inside stories from the women of Afghanistan describing the brutal conditions, outrageous punishments, and how they are choosing to fight back. It is an eye-opening experience that will leave any reader, no matter what age or gender, appreciative of their rights.
The story begins in 1996 in Kabul, just one of many unfortunate towns taken over by the notorious Taliban. Cities where women and children once laughed and played turned into a living nightmare. It goes on to describe the horrible things the Taliban did such as, "While the war on women started immediatly, men and children soon began to suffer under the Taliban's rules. Children were beaten for flying kites. Men without beards were fired from their jobs and jailed for wearing Western clothing. Those with long hair were arrested and had their heads shaved(8). People soon realized that no one had rights anymore, especially women.
Women's rights are very emphasized, although they are not the only ones that had their rights decreased under the Taliban's rule. Theirs however, were the most severe. The book talks about how women were turned to nothing. They were forced to wear burqas, a full body covering that was black, and thick causing many respiratory problems, confined to their homes and couldn't leave unless they were accompanied by a male relative. The punishments for not obeying these rules were very severe, and are horrifyingly described in the reading. "So if a Muslim man rapes a Muslim woman, he cannot be convicted-simply because she cannot testify against him(76). "An estimated 80 percent of women in Pakistan are victims of domestic violence, yet the police rarely investigate-and police corruption and violence go unpunished(76).
Despite the conditions, many women chose to ignore their fear, rise up and against the Taliban, and try to make conditions for women as best as they possibly could. One of these women is Sima Samar, who despite constantly getting death threats, continued to provide healthcare for women by opening her own hospital that saved lives, and brought hope to many. Sima is only one of many women the author talked with and tells about in this book. Hundreds began to create underground groups to provide opportunities for the women of Afghanistan. This book will change your perspective on life by making you appreciate what you have, such as simple opportunities like taking a walk or driving a car, and suprise you with devestating facts that become real about life outside of equal rights. I would reccomend the book to any reader teen years and up that is interested in life outside of the United States.

[James F · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book I have read on the subject. This was also written in 2002 just after the US defeated the Taliban, and is much better written than the book by Skaine. The author is a Canadian journalist and feminist who did much to expose the crimes of the Taliban and others against women and build the solidarity movement in Canada.

One major thread of the book is the biography of Dr. Sima Samar, who organized women's education and healthcare in the face of the Taliban and was the second president of RAWA after Meena; she became the Minister of Womens Affairs in the first interim government after the US invasion but was removed in a deal with the fundamentalists.

The book also gives much background on the history of Afghanistan before the Taliban and puts the Taliban in the context of other versions of Islam and anti-women politics elsewhere in the world. There is much emphasis on women fighting back and on the solidarity of women's organizations in the West and in other Islamic countries, in contrast to the apathy and inaction of the UN and the western governments who opposed the Taliban only in words until the chickens came home to roost on Sept. 11.

Of course the book is outdated in terms of the changes which have occurred since it was written more than ten years ago, but it was still very much worth reading.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written by a journalist, Sally Armstrong, who wanted Americans to know the truth of what was going on in Afghanistan regarding women's rights. The book was manly made up of women's stories and experiences,with facing the Taliban who had been brutishly mistreating them, throwing them to dogs as if they didn't matter. I was shocked by how much strength these women had and how unfair their lives were. The author didn't leave any details out, each story was unique and eye opening. Sally also described the government and how unjust it had become not just towards women but everyone. This book is great for people who want to be amerced in another culture completely and who want to step outside their comfort zone.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book! I highly recommend it. It was a surprisingly fast read (about 5-6 hours of reading time) and I had a hard time putting it down. I think many of us THINK we know the plight of the women of Afghanistan, what they went through and continue to endure. This book reveals a lot that I personally didn't know; gave me a lot to think about. It changed, in part, some of my feelings toward Iraq. (And confirmed and re-cemented my feelings about the United Nations.)

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, I saw this book on the shelf at the library. It was written by a Canadian journalist who went on several trips to Afganistan. She told an interesting story about what life was like for Afgan women under the Taliban. The woman feature throughout the book, Dr. Samar, is amazing!

[Artemisia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Veiled Threat" is a great introduction to the history of Afghanistan, particularly the history of women's rights. I loved the story of Dr. Sima Samar. The chapter comparing Islamic law to that of Christianity and Judaism was eye-opening. Biblically speaking, Christianity is a bit lacking in the area of women's rights

[Karen Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a Xmas present to myself after meeting some of the women in the W4WAfghan in Kingston. it was a very informative book of the plight of not only women in Afghanistan, but from around the world. Although it is difficult at times to read, everyone should do just that. I have other books by Sally Armstrong I am looking forward to reading.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Do You Hear Them?

Women trudge in shrouds of death
Afghan sand fills each breath
Veiled as a threat to men's desires
They disappear before our eyes
But through the wilderness
Cries a unified voice
A muffled scream
A plea for choice

[ღஜ♥ Kim ♥ღஜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievably powerful book!

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an eye opener...I thought I was aware, however, I had no idea what these women's lives were like. A must read.