In Pakistan, nearly 128.5 million people have been registered as voters for the general elections which will be held on February 8, as per the latest data.&nbsp;

This number of people registered as voters constitutes nearly half of its population.&nbsp;

As per reports, women in some regions of Pakistan are barred from voting even though the country has the fifth-highest number of registered voters globally, with only India, Indonesia, the United States, and Brazil leading ahead.&nbsp;

The 60-year-old former headmistress Naeem Kausir as well as her seven daughters, six of whom have already been to college, are not allowed to vote by their family's male elders, just like other women in her town.

"Whether by her husband, father, son or brother, a woman is forced. She lacks the autonomy to make decisions independently," said Kausir, who was covering her face using a veil.&nbsp;

"These men lack the courage to grant women their rights," said the widow, while speaking to AFP.

Even though voting is a constitutional right for all adults present in Pakistan, a patriarchal system is still dominant in some rural areas of the socially conservative country as the male village elders wield significant influence on their communities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-isi-agent-working-at-indian-embassy-in-moscow-arrested-from-meerut-686836">Indian Embassy employee in Moscow arrested for spying, links to Pakistan’s ISI</a>

In Dhurnal, a village in Punjab which is home to thousands of people, men give different reasons for the ban on voting for more than 50 years.

"Several years ago, during a period of low literacy rates, a council chairman decreed that if men went out to vote, and women followed suit, who would manage the household and childcare responsibilities," said Malik Muhammad, the village council's member.

"This disruption, just for one vote, was deemed unnecessary," he added.&nbsp;

Shopkeeper Muhammad Aslam has claimed that the ban has been protecting women from "local hostilities" regarding politics. Meanwhile, while speaking to AFP it was simply down to "tradition".

<h2>Election Commission says it has authority to declare process null and void</h2>

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has emphasised that it carries the authority to declare a process null and void in any constituency where women are being stopped from voting.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Pakistan gears up for polls | WION visits Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province ahead of polls

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In the country's hinterland, progress has been slow outside of cities and in areas which operate under tribal norms, as millions of women still remain uncounted on the electoral rolls.

In Dhurnal, the elders rely on neighbouring villages to fill a government-imposed quota, as per which 10 per cent of votes cast in every constituency should be by women.

Those who are permitted to vote are often pressured to choose a candidate of a male relative's choice.

(With inputs from agencies)

In Pakistan, nearly 128.5 million people have been registered as voters for the general elections which will be held on February 8, as per the latest data. This number of people registered as voters constitutes nearly half of its population.

In Pakistan, nearly 128.5 million people have been registered as voters for the general elections which will be held on February 8, as per the latest data. This number of people registered as voters constitutes nearly half of its population. As per reports, women in some regions of Pakistan are barred from voting even though the country has the fifth-highest number of registered voters globally, with only India, Indonesia, the United States, and Brazil leading ahead. The 60-year-old former headmistress Naeem Kausir as well as her seven daughters, six of whom have already been to college, are not allowed to vote by their family's male elders, just like other women in her town. "Whether by her husband, father, son or brother, a woman is forced. She lacks the autonomy to make decisions independently," said Kausir, who was covering her face using a veil. "These men lack the courage to grant women their rights," said the widow, while speaking to AFP. Even though voting is a constitutional right for all adults present in Pakistan, a patriarchal system is still dominant in some rural areas of the socially conservative country as the male village elders wield significant influence on their communities. Also read: Indian Embassy employee in Moscow arrested for spying, links to Pakistan’s ISI In Dhurnal, a village in Punjab which is home to thousands of people, men give different reasons for the ban on voting for more than 50 years. "Several years ago, during a period of low literacy rates, a council chairman decreed that if men went out to vote, and women followed suit, who would manage the household and childcare responsibilities," said Malik Muhammad, the village council's member. "This disruption, just for one vote, was deemed unnecessary," he added. Shopkeeper Muhammad Aslam has claimed that the ban has been protecting women from "local hostilities" regarding politics. Meanwhile, while speaking to AFP it was simply down to "tradition". Election Commission says it has authority to declare process null and void The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has emphasised that it carries the authority to declare a process null and void in any constituency where women are being stopped from voting. Watch: Pakistan gears up for polls | WION visits Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province ahead of polls In the country's hinterland, progress has been slow outside of cities and in areas which operate under tribal norms, as millions of women still remain uncounted on the electoral rolls. In Dhurnal, the elders rely on neighbouring villages to fill a government-imposed quota, as per which 10 per cent of votes cast in every constituency should be by women. Those who are permitted to vote are often pressured to choose a candidate of a male relative's choice. (With inputs from agencies)

In this Pakistani village, women are barred from voting by their husbands

The Supreme Electoral Court of Brazil has made a decision to bar former president Jair Bolsonaro from running for office for a duration of eight years, media reports said. Bolsonaro was found guilty of abusing his power during the previous presidential election by spreading false claims about the vulnerability of electronic voting machines to hacking and fraud.&nbsp;

The former president's actions were deemed detrimental to Brazilian democracy. Bolsonaro's legal team is anticipated to challenge the verdict, asserting that his statements did not impact the outcome of the election.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-riots-600-people-arrested-200-cops-left-injured-as-violence-continues-on-third-night-610544">France riots: 600 people arrested, 200 cops left injured as violence continues on third night</a>

In a decision reached by a majority vote of its seven judges, the Superior Electoral Court has convicted the&nbsp;68-year-old former president for abusing his power during the last presidential election which he narrowly lost to leftist candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.&nbsp;

The decision now opens up the opportunity for new leaders to emerge within the Brazilian right wing, which has been relatively inactive in opposition even after its success in congressional elections.

<h2>What was the trial?&nbsp;</h2>

The trial at the electoral court centred on Bolsonaro's actions regarding his hosting of foreign ambassadors in July of the election year. During the meeting, he expressed doubts about the reliability of Brazil's electronic voting machines.&nbsp;Opponents claimed that this gathering was a deliberate tactic to sow distrust in the electoral process.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/europe/uk-environment-minister-zac-goldsmith-resigns-accuses-rishi-sunak-of-neglecting-climate-change-610540">UK environment minister Zac Goldsmith resigns, accuses Rishi Sunak of neglecting Climate Change</a>

The meeting was broadcasted on live television and various social media platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

<h2>Judge's statement&nbsp;</h2>

Benedito Goncalves, the judge overseeing the case, accused Bolsonaro of delivering a "deceitful monologue about electronic voting and the electoral justice system . . . using scraps of false information already so naturalised in his rhetoric”.

Watch | French President spotted at singer Elton John's concert amid riots

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The court also presented a draft document discovered in the home of Bolsonaro's justice minister, Anderson Torres, which outlined plans to overturn the election results. This document demonstrated a broader strategy to cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral system.

<h2>Bolsonaro's response&nbsp;</h2>

Bolsonaro denied any wrongdoing and argued that the meeting with ambassadors had governmental, rather than electoral, purposes. He plans to appeal the court's decision at the Supreme Court. “I did not attack the voting system. I just showed its possible flaws," he said.&nbsp;

As a result of the verdict, Bolsonaro has been banned from participating in any elections, including local, state, and federal, for eight years. The ban applies retroactively from the first round of the 2022 presidential election, effectively barring him from contesting any polls until 2030.&nbsp;

However, he is still permitted to engage in political activities and expressed his intention to remain fully involved.

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The Supreme Electoral Court of Brazil has made a decision to bar former president Jair Bolsonaro from running for office for a duration of eight years, media reports said.

The Supreme Electoral Court of Brazil has made a decision to bar former president Jair Bolsonaro from running for office for a duration of eight years, media reports said. Bolsonaro was found guilty of abusing his power during the previous presidential election by spreading false claims about the vulnerability of electronic voting machines to hacking and fraud. The former president's actions were deemed detrimental to Brazilian democracy. Bolsonaro's legal team is anticipated to challenge the verdict, asserting that his statements did not impact the outcome of the election. Also Read | France riots: 600 people arrested, 200 cops left injured as violence continues on third night In a decision reached by a majority vote of its seven judges, the Superior Electoral Court has convicted the 68-year-old former president for abusing his power during the last presidential election which he narrowly lost to leftist candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The decision now opens up the opportunity for new leaders to emerge within the Brazilian right wing, which has been relatively inactive in opposition even after its success in congressional elections. What was the trial? The trial at the electoral court centred on Bolsonaro's actions regarding his hosting of foreign ambassadors in July of the election year. During the meeting, he expressed doubts about the reliability of Brazil's electronic voting machines. Opponents claimed that this gathering was a deliberate tactic to sow distrust in the electoral process. Also Read | UK environment minister Zac Goldsmith resigns, accuses Rishi Sunak of neglecting Climate Change The meeting was broadcasted on live television and various social media platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Judge's statement Benedito Goncalves, the judge overseeing the case, accused Bolsonaro of delivering a "deceitful monologue about electronic voting and the electoral justice system . . . using scraps of false information already so naturalised in his rhetoric”. Watch | French President spotted at singer Elton John's concert amid riots × The court also presented a draft document discovered in the home of Bolsonaro's justice minister, Anderson Torres, which outlined plans to overturn the election results. This document demonstrated a broader strategy to cast doubt on the integrity of the electoral system. Bolsonaro's response Bolsonaro denied any wrongdoing and argued that the meeting with ambassadors had governmental, rather than electoral, purposes. He plans to appeal the court's decision at the Supreme Court. “I did not attack the voting system. I just showed its possible flaws," he said. As a result of the verdict, Bolsonaro has been banned from participating in any elections, including local, state, and federal, for eight years. The ban applies retroactively from the first round of the 2022 presidential election, effectively barring him from contesting any polls until 2030. However, he is still permitted to engage in political activities and expressed his intention to remain fully involved. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Brazil's Bolsonaro barred from office for eight years

Afghan teenager Amena saw dozens of classmates killed when her girls' school was targeted by an Islamic State bomb attack in May, but she was determined to continue her education.

Now, like most secondary school girls in the country, she is banned from lessons altogether after the Taliban's hardline government excluded them from returning to class one month ago.

"I wanted to study, see my friends and have a bright future, but now I am not allowed," 16-year-old Amena told AFP at her home in western Kabul.&nbsp;

"This situation makes me feel awful. Since the Taliban arrived, I am very sad and angry."

On September 18, Afghanistan's new Islamist rulers ordered male teachers and boys aged 13 and over back to secondary schools, picking up an academic year already cut short by violence and the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, there was no mention of women teachers or girl pupils.

The Taliban later said older girls can return to secondary schools, which were already mostly split by gender, but only once security and stricter segregation under their interpretation of Islamic law could be ensured.

Reports have emerged of girls going back to a few high schools -- such as in Kunduz province where the Taliban promoted the return with a stage-managed rally.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="Thousands of Afghans receive assistance: UN agency">Thousands of Afghans receive assistance: UN agency</a>

The de facto Taliban education minister told the UN children's body that a framework to allow all girls to go to secondary school will be announced soon, a senior UNICEF executive said Friday.

But for now, the vast majority are barred from lessons across the country of about 39 million people, including in the capital Kabul.&nbsp;

Primary schools, meanwhile, have reopened for all children and women can go to private universities, though with tough restrictions on their clothes and movement.

'No hope'&nbsp;

Amena lives just a short walk from her Sayed Al-Shuhada High School, where 85 people -- mainly young girls -- perished in the May bomb attack.

"Innocent girls were killed," Amena said, her eyes welling up.

"I saw with my own eyes the dying and wounded girls.

"However, I still wanted to go to school again."

Amena would be in Grade 10 studying her favourite subjects such as biology, but instead is stuck inside with a handful of books doing "nothing special".

Also Read |<a href="Nothing changed between Taliban of 1990s and 2021: Report">&nbsp;Nothing changed between Taliban of 1990s and 2021: Report</a>

The teenager said she dreamt of becoming a journalist, but now has "no hope in Afghanistan".

Her siblings help her at home, and occasionally she gets lessons from a psychologist who comes to see her younger sister, still traumatised by the school attack.

"They say: 'Study if you cannot go to school -- study at home so that you may become someone in the future.'"

"My brother brings home storybooks and I read them," Amena said. "And I always watch the news."

But she does not understand why boys are allowed to study and girls are not.

"Half of the society is made up of girls and the other half is made up of boys. There is no difference between them," she said.

"Why can't we study? Are we not part of society? Why should only boys have a future?"

Recent progress&nbsp;

After US-led forces ousted the Taliban in 2001, progress was made in girls' education.

The number of schools tripled and female literacy nearly doubled to 30 percent, but the change was largely limited to the cities.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/isis-claims-responsibility-of-mosque-blast-that-killed-at-least-60-people-419339">ISIS claims responsibility of mosque blast that killed at least 60 people</a>

"Afghan women have made great achievements in the past 20 years," said Nasrin Hasani, a 21-year-old teacher at a Kabul secondary school who now helps out with primary pupils.

But the current situation has "lowered both our and the students' morale", she said, questioning the Taliban's reasoning.

"As far as we all know, the religion of Islam has never hindered the education and work of women."

Hasani said she has not experienced any direct threats from the Taliban.

But Amnesty International reported that one high school teacher received death threats and was summoned for prosecution because she used to teach co-educational sport.

Hasani said she was clinging to hope that the Taliban will be "a little different" from their brutal 1996-2001 regime, when women were not even allowed out of their homes unchaperoned.

Buried dreams&nbsp;

Born years after 2001, Zainab has no memories of that period and loved going to school until the Taliban directive.

The 12-year-old was stuck looking out of the window with a "terrible feeling" last month when boys went back to school.

"It is quite obvious that things get worse day by day", said Zainab, whose name has been changed to protect her identity.

Her 16-year-old sister Malalay said tearfully that she had "feelings of despair and fear".

Malalay, whose name has also been changed, passes her time helping around the house, cleaning, washing dishes and doing laundry.

She said she tries not to cry in front of her mother "because there are a lot of pressures on her".

The teen had dreams of promoting women's rights and speaking out against the men depriving her of her rights.

"My rights are to go to school and university," she said.

"All my dreams and plans are now buried."

Afghan teenager Amena saw dozens of classmates killed when her girls' school was targeted by an Islamic State bomb attack in May, but she was determined to continue her education.

Afghan teenager Amena saw dozens of classmates killed when her girls' school was targeted by an Islamic State bomb attack in May, but she was determined to continue her education. Now, like most secondary school girls in the country, she is banned from lessons altogether after the Taliban's hardline government excluded them from returning to class one month ago. "I wanted to study, see my friends and have a bright future, but now I am not allowed," 16-year-old Amena told AFP at her home in western Kabul. "This situation makes me feel awful. Since the Taliban arrived, I am very sad and angry." On September 18, Afghanistan's new Islamist rulers ordered male teachers and boys aged 13 and over back to secondary schools, picking up an academic year already cut short by violence and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there was no mention of women teachers or girl pupils. The Taliban later said older girls can return to secondary schools, which were already mostly split by gender, but only once security and stricter segregation under their interpretation of Islamic law could be ensured. Reports have emerged of girls going back to a few high schools -- such as in Kunduz province where the Taliban promoted the return with a stage-managed rally. Also Read | Thousands of Afghans receive assistance: UN agency The de facto Taliban education minister told the UN children's body that a framework to allow all girls to go to secondary school will be announced soon, a senior UNICEF executive said Friday. But for now, the vast majority are barred from lessons across the country of about 39 million people, including in the capital Kabul. Primary schools, meanwhile, have reopened for all children and women can go to private universities, though with tough restrictions on their clothes and movement. 'No hope' Amena lives just a short walk from her Sayed Al-Shuhada High School, where 85 people -- mainly young girls -- perished in the May bomb attack. "Innocent girls were killed," Amena said, her eyes welling up. "I saw with my own eyes the dying and wounded girls. "However, I still wanted to go to school again." Amena would be in Grade 10 studying her favourite subjects such as biology, but instead is stuck inside with a handful of books doing "nothing special". Also Read | Nothing changed between Taliban of 1990s and 2021: Report The teenager said she dreamt of becoming a journalist, but now has "no hope in Afghanistan". Her siblings help her at home, and occasionally she gets lessons from a psychologist who comes to see her younger sister, still traumatised by the school attack. "They say: 'Study if you cannot go to school -- study at home so that you may become someone in the future.'" "My brother brings home storybooks and I read them," Amena said. "And I always watch the news." But she does not understand why boys are allowed to study and girls are not. "Half of the society is made up of girls and the other half is made up of boys. There is no difference between them," she said. "Why can't we study? Are we not part of society? Why should only boys have a future?" Recent progress After US-led forces ousted the Taliban in 2001, progress was made in girls' education. The number of schools tripled and female literacy nearly doubled to 30 percent, but the change was largely limited to the cities. Also Read | ISIS claims responsibility of mosque blast that killed at least 60 people "Afghan women have made great achievements in the past 20 years," said Nasrin Hasani, a 21-year-old teacher at a Kabul secondary school who now helps out with primary pupils. But the current situation has "lowered both our and the students' morale", she said, questioning the Taliban's reasoning. "As far as we all know, the religion of Islam has never hindered the education and work of women." Hasani said she has not experienced any direct threats from the Taliban. But Amnesty International reported that one high school teacher received death threats and was summoned for prosecution because she used to teach co-educational sport. Hasani said she was clinging to hope that the Taliban will be "a little different" from their brutal 1996-2001 regime, when women were not even allowed out of their homes unchaperoned. Buried dreams Born years after 2001, Zainab has no memories of that period and loved going to school until the Taliban directive. The 12-year-old was stuck looking out of the window with a "terrible feeling" last month when boys went back to school. "It is quite obvious that things get worse day by day", said Zainab, whose name has been changed to protect her identity. Her 16-year-old sister Malalay said tearfully that she had "feelings of despair and fear". Malalay, whose name has also been changed, passes her time helping around the house, cleaning, washing dishes and doing laundry. She said she tries not to cry in front of her mother "because there are a lot of pressures on her". The teen had dreams of promoting women's rights and speaking out against the men depriving her of her rights. "My rights are to go to school and university," she said. "All my dreams and plans are now buried."

Why can't we study ? - Afghan girls still barred from school

It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women's rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms.

Draconian rules that once forced half the population behind closed doors —barred from education and work— have been chipped away in the nearly two decades since the US-led invasion that swept the Taliban from power.

"If they return, women will have to leave the public space," Haidari tells AFP from the restaurant she runs in Kabul, one of the few places in the capital where men and women dine together.

Haidari launched the #metooafghanistan movement which she and others hope will be a vanguard of Afghan women who can hold the line against Taliban power.

"We never want to go back. We never want to lose our freedom," says Mina Rezaee, the owner of another cafe in Kabul, where music — banned under the Taliban — plays in the background.

After six days of negotiations in Qatar, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabul-control-slips-in-afghanistan-amid-us-talks-with-taliban-194042">US and Taliban</a> have agreed on a draft framework for a deal which could pave the way for the insurgents to hold peace talks with Kabul.

With the US desperate to withdraw from Afghanistan, and the Taliban in control of vast parts of the country, it is unclear what a post-conflict government would look like.

Any participation by the Taliban, however, frightens many women.

Before being toppled by the US invasion of 2001, the Taliban governed Afghanistan for nearly five years with a strict interpretation of Shariah law.

"We still remember how hard it was to be a woman under Taliban rule," says Naweeda Bayat, a 25-year-old from central Jaghori district.&nbsp;

"I was a kid, but I remember they burned our school right in front of our eyes."

The government in Kabul controls less than two-thirds of the country, according to a US estimate — and in Taliban-controlled areas, nothing has changed.

"They have either burned girls' schools or don't allow women to work," Bayat says. "This tells us how they might be if they come back."

'Shut out'

Afghan women have even more reason to worry if they are "shut out of the negotiation process, as they mostly have been," says Heather Barr, a senior women's rights researcher.

"The Taliban's attitude toward women has moderated slightly since 2001, but it is still a million miles away from the equal rights women are granted under Afghanistan's constitution," she observes.

The position of women in Afghanistan has undeniably improved since 2001.

More than 2.5 million of the eight million school children are girls, according to the UN. More than a quarter of the seats in parliament are reserved for women and in 2016 they made up nearly a fifth of the workforce.

But despite the progress — and millions spent by Western aid programmes since 2001 — Afghanistan ranks last in the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security index which measures well-being and self-reliance.

The fears of educated women in the capital are shared by those in rural areas, where the literacy rate can be less than two per cent and rights are often even more constrained by conservative tradition.

Hasina, a 32-year-old mother of one in the disputed southern province of Helmand, says she dreads going backwards.

"We are worried and afraid for our lives," she says.

"If the Taliban come back and ban schools for my children, or don't allow me to go out without my husband, this is not acceptable for me," says Nazia Rezaee, a 35-year-old in the central city of Ghazni.

Afghan women 'have changed'&nbsp;

Several feminist activists told AFP they believe the country has changed and Afghan women will not allow their rights to be taken away without a fight.

"Afghan women are stronger, more informed, more educated than ever, and no one, including men, will agree to return to what Afghanistan was in 1998," says Fawzia Koofi, who heads the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Human Rights.&nbsp;

Activist Attia Mehraban feels the same. "I dream of peace, like millions of other Afghans, but I dream more vividly of my freedom and rights as a 21st Century human being," she told AFP.

"The price of peace cannot be limitless."

Her message to the Taliban, she said, is "Afghan women have changed... If you think you can come back with the same ideology ... you are wrong, you will be facing a formidable force of well-educated Afghan women who are conscious of their rights and who will not give in to oppression."

Hosai Andar, a businesswoman in her 40s, said she could "not imagine the world would abandon us once again".

"I am an optimist," she told AFP. "They will stay with us."

It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women's rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms.

It is naive to think the Taliban have changed their stance on women's rights, says Kabul restaurateur Laila Haidari, who like many educated Afghan women fears any peace deal between the extremists and the US could erode hard-won freedoms. Draconian rules that once forced half the population behind closed doors —barred from education and work— have been chipped away in the nearly two decades since the US-led invasion that swept the Taliban from power. "If they return, women will have to leave the public space," Haidari tells AFP from the restaurant she runs in Kabul, one of the few places in the capital where men and women dine together. Haidari launched the #metooafghanistan movement which she and others hope will be a vanguard of Afghan women who can hold the line against Taliban power. "We never want to go back. We never want to lose our freedom," says Mina Rezaee, the owner of another cafe in Kabul, where music — banned under the Taliban — plays in the background. After six days of negotiations in Qatar, the US and Taliban have agreed on a draft framework for a deal which could pave the way for the insurgents to hold peace talks with Kabul. With the US desperate to withdraw from Afghanistan, and the Taliban in control of vast parts of the country, it is unclear what a post-conflict government would look like. Any participation by the Taliban, however, frightens many women. Before being toppled by the US invasion of 2001, the Taliban governed Afghanistan for nearly five years with a strict interpretation of Shariah law. "We still remember how hard it was to be a woman under Taliban rule," says Naweeda Bayat, a 25-year-old from central Jaghori district. "I was a kid, but I remember they burned our school right in front of our eyes." The government in Kabul controls less than two-thirds of the country, according to a US estimate — and in Taliban-controlled areas, nothing has changed. "They have either burned girls' schools or don't allow women to work," Bayat says. "This tells us how they might be if they come back." 'Shut out' Afghan women have even more reason to worry if they are "shut out of the negotiation process, as they mostly have been," says Heather Barr, a senior women's rights researcher. "The Taliban's attitude toward women has moderated slightly since 2001, but it is still a million miles away from the equal rights women are granted under Afghanistan's constitution," she observes. The position of women in Afghanistan has undeniably improved since 2001. More than 2.5 million of the eight million school children are girls, according to the UN. More than a quarter of the seats in parliament are reserved for women and in 2016 they made up nearly a fifth of the workforce. But despite the progress — and millions spent by Western aid programmes since 2001 — Afghanistan ranks last in the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security index which measures well-being and self-reliance. The fears of educated women in the capital are shared by those in rural areas, where the literacy rate can be less than two per cent and rights are often even more constrained by conservative tradition. Hasina, a 32-year-old mother of one in the disputed southern province of Helmand, says she dreads going backwards. "We are worried and afraid for our lives," she says. "If the Taliban come back and ban schools for my children, or don't allow me to go out without my husband, this is not acceptable for me," says Nazia Rezaee, a 35-year-old in the central city of Ghazni. Afghan women 'have changed' Several feminist activists told AFP they believe the country has changed and Afghan women will not allow their rights to be taken away without a fight. "Afghan women are stronger, more informed, more educated than ever, and no one, including men, will agree to return to what Afghanistan was in 1998," says Fawzia Koofi, who heads the Parliamentary Committee on Women and Human Rights. Activist Attia Mehraban feels the same. "I dream of peace, like millions of other Afghans, but I dream more vividly of my freedom and rights as a 21st Century human being," she told AFP. "The price of peace cannot be limitless." Her message to the Taliban, she said, is "Afghan women have changed... If you think you can come back with the same ideology ... you are wrong, you will be facing a formidable force of well-educated Afghan women who are conscious of their rights and who will not give in to oppression." Hosai Andar, a businesswoman in her 40s, said she could "not imagine the world would abandon us once again". "I am an optimist," she told AFP. "They will stay with us."

Afghan women fear cost of peace will be their freedom

A high-profile Hong Kong pro-independence leader said today he had been barred from standing in upcoming parliamentary elections -- the latest candidate backing separation from mainland China to be disqualified. 
 
The apparent ban for Edward Leung, of the Hong Kong Indigenous party, from the September vote came despite him signing a controversial new form declaring Hong Kong is an &quot;inalienable&quot; part of China. 
 
Activists call for &#39;complete breakaway&#39; from mainland&nbsp; 
 
Critics have slammed the new stipulation by electoral authorities as political censorship and an attempt to deter prospective candidates from advocating self-determination or independence from Beijing. 
 
Some activists are calling for more distance or even a complete breakaway from the mainland as fears grow that freedoms in the semi-autonomous city are disappearing due to Beijing interference. 
 
Campaigners, including Leung, have challenged the declaration form in court and at least 13 prospective candidates have refused to sign it. 
 
Leung, 25, eventually signed last week, despite his open advocacy for an independent Hong Kong, in the hope the authorities would validate his candidacy. But his party said today he had been rejected. It accused the electoral commission of &quot;trampling the will of the people, abusing administrative power and giving up political neutrality&quot;. 
 
&quot;There is no way the crime of selecting candidates according to political goals can be easily forgiven,&quot; it said in a statement. 
 
The founder of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party, Andy Chan, was one of three other hopefuls barred in recent days from standing in the September vote. Chan had refused to sign the declaration form. 
 
The other two prospective candidates who disqualified were also part of the &quot;localist&quot; movement, which is pushing for more autonomy for Hong Kong after mass pro-democracy rallies in 2014 failed to win political reform. 
 
Beijing and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said that advocating independence goes against the city&#39;s mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, and that independence activists could face legal consequences. Various government departments including the electoral office made no comment today. 
 
The government on Monday condemned what it called &quot;malicious personal attacks&quot; online aimed at returning officers over their decisions during the registration period and said police may take action. Hong Kong was returned from Britain to China in 1997 under an arrangement that guarantees civil liberties unseen on the mainland. But concerns have grown that such freedoms are now fading as Beijing increases its influence across a range of areas, from politics to the media. 
 
(AFP)

Critics have slammed the attempt to deter prospective candidates from advocating self-determination or independence from Beijing

A high-profile Hong Kong pro-independence leader said today he had been barred from standing in upcoming parliamentary elections -- the latest candidate backing separation from mainland China to be disqualified. The apparent ban for Edward Leung, of the Hong Kong Indigenous party, from the September vote came despite him signing a controversial new form declaring Hong Kong is an "inalienable" part of China. Activists call for 'complete breakaway' from mainland Critics have slammed the new stipulation by electoral authorities as political censorship and an attempt to deter prospective candidates from advocating self-determination or independence from Beijing. Some activists are calling for more distance or even a complete breakaway from the mainland as fears grow that freedoms in the semi-autonomous city are disappearing due to Beijing interference. Campaigners, including Leung, have challenged the declaration form in court and at least 13 prospective candidates have refused to sign it. Leung, 25, eventually signed last week, despite his open advocacy for an independent Hong Kong, in the hope the authorities would validate his candidacy. But his party said today he had been rejected. It accused the electoral commission of "trampling the will of the people, abusing administrative power and giving up political neutrality". "There is no way the crime of selecting candidates according to political goals can be easily forgiven," it said in a statement. The founder of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party, Andy Chan, was one of three other hopefuls barred in recent days from standing in the September vote. Chan had refused to sign the declaration form. The other two prospective candidates who disqualified were also part of the "localist" movement, which is pushing for more autonomy for Hong Kong after mass pro-democracy rallies in 2014 failed to win political reform. Beijing and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said that advocating independence goes against the city's mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, and that independence activists could face legal consequences. Various government departments including the electoral office made no comment today. The government on Monday condemned what it called "malicious personal attacks" online aimed at returning officers over their decisions during the registration period and said police may take action. Hong Kong was returned from Britain to China in 1997 under an arrangement that guarantees civil liberties unseen on the mainland. But concerns have grown that such freedoms are now fading as Beijing increases its influence across a range of areas, from politics to the media. (AFP)

Hong Kong pro-independence leader gets barred from parliamentary elections, anger brews

Russia&#39;s Olympic Games weightlifting team was banned from the Rio Games on Friday in the latest doping-related blow to the sporting powerhouse. 
 
&quot;The integrity of the weightlifting sport has been seriously damaged on multiple times and levels by the Russians, therefore an appropriate sanction was applied in order to preserve the status of the sport,&quot; said a statement by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). 
 
There are now 117 Russian competitors banned from the Games - including 67 track and field athletes - from the 387 initially nominated by the Russian Olympic Committee. 
 
The eight weightlifters originally selected were Oleg Chen, Adam Maligov, Ruslan Albegov, David Bedzhanyan and Artem Okulov in the men`s competition and Tatiana Kashirina, Tima Turieva and Anastasia Romanova in the women&#39;s. 
 
Okulov is a world champion while at the London Games in 2012, Albegov claimed a bronze medal and Kashirina took home a silver. 
Kashirina and Romanova both had their nominations withdrawn by the Russian Olympic Committee due to prior anti-doping rule violations, added the IWF statement. 
 
Four others were listed in the bombshell McLaren report which exposed widespread state-sponsored doping in Russia. 
 
In the aftermath of that report, the International Olympic Committee resisted huge pressure to impose a blanket ban on Russia from the Olympics which get underway on August 5. 
 
Instead, they asked individual federations to make the call on who should be cleared for the Games. 
 
&quot;Under these exceptional circumstances, Russian athletes in any of the 28 Olympic summer sports have to assume the consequences of what amounts to a collective responsibility in order to protect the credibility of the Olympic competitions, and the `presumption of innocence` cannot be applied to them,&quot; added the IWF. 
 
&quot;On the other hand, according to the rules of natural justice, individual justice, to which every human being is entitled, has to be applied. This means that each affected athlete must be given the opportunity to rebut the applicability of collective responsibility in his or her individual case.&quot; 
 
The IWF in highlighting &quot;the extremely shocking and disappointing statistics regarding the Russian weightlifters&quot; added that seven dope tests being re-examined from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics have returned positive results. 
 
The McLaren report found that the Moscow laboratory at the centre of Russia&#39;s state-sponsored doping programme hid 117 positive weightlifting tests over a four-year period -- a figure second only to track and field. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

The International Weightlifting Federation said some of the athletes had been named in a report which exposed state-backed doping in Russia

Russia's Olympic Games weightlifting team was banned from the Rio Games on Friday in the latest doping-related blow to the sporting powerhouse. "The integrity of the weightlifting sport has been seriously damaged on multiple times and levels by the Russians, therefore an appropriate sanction was applied in order to preserve the status of the sport," said a statement by the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF). There are now 117 Russian competitors banned from the Games - including 67 track and field athletes - from the 387 initially nominated by the Russian Olympic Committee. The eight weightlifters originally selected were Oleg Chen, Adam Maligov, Ruslan Albegov, David Bedzhanyan and Artem Okulov in the men`s competition and Tatiana Kashirina, Tima Turieva and Anastasia Romanova in the women's. Okulov is a world champion while at the London Games in 2012, Albegov claimed a bronze medal and Kashirina took home a silver. Kashirina and Romanova both had their nominations withdrawn by the Russian Olympic Committee due to prior anti-doping rule violations, added the IWF statement. Four others were listed in the bombshell McLaren report which exposed widespread state-sponsored doping in Russia. In the aftermath of that report, the International Olympic Committee resisted huge pressure to impose a blanket ban on Russia from the Olympics which get underway on August 5. Instead, they asked individual federations to make the call on who should be cleared for the Games. "Under these exceptional circumstances, Russian athletes in any of the 28 Olympic summer sports have to assume the consequences of what amounts to a collective responsibility in order to protect the credibility of the Olympic competitions, and the `presumption of innocence` cannot be applied to them," added the IWF. "On the other hand, according to the rules of natural justice, individual justice, to which every human being is entitled, has to be applied. This means that each affected athlete must be given the opportunity to rebut the applicability of collective responsibility in his or her individual case." The IWF in highlighting "the extremely shocking and disappointing statistics regarding the Russian weightlifters" added that seven dope tests being re-examined from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics have returned positive results. The McLaren report found that the Moscow laboratory at the centre of Russia's state-sponsored doping programme hid 117 positive weightlifting tests over a four-year period -- a figure second only to track and field. (AFP)

Russian weightlifting team barred from Rio Games

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