The misogynist cult men of the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan on 15August2021 aided by the “Doha Deal” with the United States ending the war in Afghanistan and lending a degree of informal legitimization to the Taliban.
The Taliban attempted to sell to the international community they had changed shallowly stating they respected women’s involvement within society and guaranteeing their rights “within the limits of Islam and within the context of the Sharia” of course all as interpreted by you know who. The falsity of this marketing hot air was exhibited with the banning by the Taliban of women from receiving any education causing an underground educational world to be created.
Manizha Bakhtari, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Austria, seemingly caught in a no man’s land (no pun intended), continued her ambassadorial duties despite being advised by the Human Resources Director of the Taliban her services were no longer required.
The embassy was closed and the Afghani diaspora in Vienna funded new premises far more modest than the previous one. Revenue, no longer flowing from Taliban Afghanistan, was derived from consular fees. Hand to mouth existence. Eventually the Taliban advised the embassy no longer were any documents issued by it valid.
Bakhtari continued the struggle in her belief the Taliban was a regressive, misogynist and genocidal force. She founded The Daughter Programme a campaign for the education of Afghani girls. She corresponded with video to a young lady Zakia in Kabul, giving the viewer a personal perspective of Taliban repression, recounting the fear, anxiety and bullying of the Taliban attempting to eradicate education for girls.
Death threats of the vilest misogynist brand from anonymous cowards on social media directed at Bakhtari caused security to be heightened at the Viennese embassy. Still Bakhtari persisted with no interim government in exile being formed.
The background, family life and career of Bakhtari is briefly dealt with and some guilt is expressed by her regarding the secondary role she accorded her family in the service of the Afghani people.
Central to her struggle is preventing any international legitimacy to the Afghani Taliban and promoting the education of Afghani girls.
Bakhtari resides with her husband in Vancouver when she is not continuing her ambassadorial role.
Bakhtari has hope the Taliban will no longer rule Afghanistan. It is only a matter of time she believes.
She was awarded the OECD White Ribbon Award for her efforts in defending the rights of women in Afghanistan.
Her motto is, “peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of justice.”
The director of this Austrian documentary is Natalie Halla.
Screening 25/27April2025.
RKS 2025 Documentary Rating 76/100.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 