In many regions of the world where Muslims reside, the arrival of the month of Ramadan is accompanied by vibrant religious ceremonies, street decorations, and the collection of alms and Zakat through established institutions. However, when the fasting month approaches in Afghanistan, two things stand out more than anything else: the soaring prices of food and clothing in the markets (unlike the tradition observed in some other Islamic countries where prices decrease out of respect for Ramadan), and the increase in the presence of powerful beggars in every alley and corner; beggars who are cunning and persistent, employing various tactics to obtain money from people. Sometimes, the persistence and insistence of beggars in soliciting money from passersby make it difficult for people to walk in the streets and markets.
It is noteworthy that in recent years, alongside official beggars, informal beggars have also increased. Strong-bodied youth and middle-aged individuals roam around a city, sitting and sleeping by its sides or along the roadsides, giving the impression that they are seeking employment and willing to transport goods for people. Still, in reality, they resort to begging, seeking an opportunity to elicit sympathy and compassion from passersby to give them money and create a cover for themselves in the city to remain safe from the Taliban. When someone is found helping the poor with cash or food at intersections, all these street dwellers suddenly converge on them to get a share of the assistance. This group of beggars increases significantly in the late hours of the day.
The powerful presence of beggars in cities and their display of power during the fasting month stems from the fact that during this month, fasting individuals are encouraged by religious leaders to help the poor and needy, and it is imbued that providing for the needy in this month holds greater value and reward. As many people adhere to religious teachings, they strive to help the needy more during this month to earn the pleasure of God, including giving alms to beggars wandering the city streets. This leads more individuals to be inclined towards begging, thinking that they can earn more money during this month. In other words, people’s inclination to help the needy during the month of fasting leads to the proliferation of a culture of beggary, with more people resorting to begging, considering it their profession, and abandoning efforts to earn money through work, thus becoming a burden on society.
The Taliban regime in the past one or two years has attempted to gather beggars and prevent their roaming in the streets and markets. However, the main issue is that without addressing the root cause of the problem, it is impossible to combat this social issue through coercion and force. Currently, poverty and destitution have become pervasive and distressing, affecting the lives of many individuals, from seventy-year-old men to seven-year-old children. Without tackling poverty, it is impossible to address the phenomenon of begging and find a solution.
Although poverty has always been a serious issue in contemporary times, its adverse consequences in third-world countries are deeper and more extensive. Poverty is one of those phenomena with long-term adverse implications, including increased unemployment, rising crime rates, an increase in diseases, and even the likelihood of increased social and political unrest. Therefore, it is necessary to implement coherent and effective programs to control it. It is not always possible to confront social problems with force, and this approach may even yield adverse results.
Few countries in the world face unemployment issues like the people of Afghanistan. The level of unemployment in this country is highly alarming. It is evident that as the unemployment rate in a society increases, so does poverty and hunger. Meanwhile, the Taliban, through widespread human rights violations and ruthless suppression of dissenters and non-conformists, have created favorable conditions for the country’s isolation internationally. Afghanistan’s isolation on the global stage has led to the further deterioration of its fragile economy and may even lead to a recession. Fighting poverty and hunger without effective economic management is not feasible, and one of the prerequisites for this is for Afghanistan to engage positively and constructively with the world. The Taliban not only do not consider scientific solutions for economic growth and combating unemployment, but they also challenge the normal economic cycle by imposing additional taxes on traders and other citizens under the pretext of revenue collection.
Among the factors that have exacerbated poverty and deprivation in Afghanistan, one notable factor is the Taliban’s prevention of women from working and receiving education, who constitute half of society. The Taliban group, lacking any understanding of the requisites of modern governance, has dealt a blow to the economy of families by suppressing women and not allowing their presence in various sectors of society, thereby exacerbating poverty and misery among the people. In many families, due to prolonged wars, male family members who traditionally served as breadwinners have perished, leaving women in these families responsible for procuring food, clothing, and educating children. By preventing women from working, the Taliban have practically eliminated the sole source of livelihood for these families. According to reports from international organizations, the absence of women from the workforce and education annually deals a blow of two billion dollars to the country’s economy. The Taliban authorities have not reached a level of understanding and awareness to make a correct analysis of this deplorable situation.
Moreover, the programs that the Taliban have in place to ideologize the school system and universities not only do not contribute to reducing poverty in the country but are likely to pave the way for its expansion. Experiences in other countries have shown that ideologizing educational systems leads to future generations being less familiar with the skills required in the modern world and facing difficulties in establishing connections with the world, ultimately lagging in progress and development. This issue not only fails to eradicate poverty but exacerbates it further, as rooting out poverty requires precise scientific programs, and a generation nurtured under ideological shadows cannot devise such programs. The Taliban’s approach to education is a disaster in every sense and may even lead to the ruin of energy for several generations.
Supporters of the religious government have continuously preached to us that establishing an “Islamic government” would result in the fair distribution of wealth, elimination of class disparities, establishment of justice, and eradication of poverty from society. Advocates of the “Islamic government” chant these mouth-filling slogans before coming to power. Still, when they seize power and ride on the shoulders of the people in the name of Islam, they not only fail to achieve these slogans but, more than others, partake in the unfair distribution of wealth, widening class disparities, increasing poverty, and unemployment. If you remind them why they couldn’t implement their slogans and reduce the social and economic problems of society, they raise their heads high, blame the East and West, attribute the current chaotic situation to external factors, and absolve themselves of any fault or mistake.
