Afghanistan, a land steeped in rich tribal history, is confronting a daunting challenge: the rights and needs of its people in the Deaf Community. Despite some progress made by a few NGOs, the Deaf Community faces complex difficulties. They have a lack of educational and employment opportunities, communication barriers, and stigma. Here’s an in-depth look at the challenges faced by the Deaf Community and initiatives made by various organizations, including the government and non-governmental organizations.

Briefing on Afghanistan 

Afghanistan is considered a developing nation. It has experienced control by multiple ethnic groups, like the Persians, Greeks, and Indians. In the 600s, the Muslim Arabs took over, according to Joshua Project. Shortly after, Islam spread throughout Afghanistan. It replaced the ancient religion and political systems of other ethnic groups. 

Fast forward to the present day. When you think of the country Afghanistan, what comes to mind? A war-torn country with an oppressive government. Unfortunately, the country went through the Soviet invasion, 20 years of war with the United States, and transitions in government. Women and girls are the victims of a patriarchal society that seems only to value men. The Taliban requires them to cover up, and they have also banned them from education or employment. 

The Deaf Community in Afghanistan

There are 394,000 Deaf people in Afghanistan, including 10,000 children. Being Deaf or having other disabilities in this country is stigmatized. The people in this community use Afghan Sign Language (AFSL). This dialect began in Jalalabad, a town east of Kabul, the capital. The origins of AFSL are unclear, considering Afghanistan is a tribal country, and other dialects could exist in provinces outside of Kabul. However, because of sign language vocational training for Afghan refugees in Pakistan in the 1990s, ASL has had some influence on AFSL. 

The Stigma of Being a Deaf Woman

After 40+ years of wars, the amount of people who suffer from being Deaf has risen. Societal views have seldom changed, despite the immense hardships of decades of violence. Discrimination is mainly against women, especially in the disabled community. They are unfit to marry and a burden to their family. They also face isolationism and being outcasts from their community, becoming a social pariah within that context. Families are also known to try and salvage their social status by concealing issues like Deafness within their family to the community. It comes down to pride and not wanting others to look down on them. Having any impairment is also believed to be a punishment within the realm of religion.

Challenges faced by the Deaf Community

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The outlook and perspective on the Deaf community is quite grim. The barriers are defined, and many Deaf people only have a fighting chance of getting somewhere if they keep pushing against resistance or leave the country. 

For Deaf women, with the Taliban, getting an education or working is banned. For a while, when the United States occupied Afghanistan,  all women, including the Deaf, had access to universities, employment, and social activities. That story has changed since 2021. Women can’t leave the house without a male relative. Deaf and other disabled women are nothing more than prisoners in their own homes.

Education for the Deaf Afghans 

The University of North Dakota reported some initiatives in the 1980s during the Soviet Invasion by non-governmental organizations focused on the Deaf and disabled communities, especially in rural areas. This project extended to the early 1990s when an NGO called Holy Land Institute for the Deaf taught American Sign Language (ASL) to the Afghan Deaf communities. The institute also produced two dictionaries on AFSL. Later, in the early 2000s, the project moved to Jalalabad, a town near Kabul, and established the only Deaf school during that time. 

Education From the Early 2000s and Beyond

Over the past 20 years, corruption, war, failing infrastructure, and lack of resources led to inconsistency with education. At one point, before the US invasion, only boys were allowed to attend school, but not formal education with the core subjects. It was Islamic studies where they learned an extreme interpretation of the Quran. It was also prevalent in Deaf schools. Throughout the ’80s into the early 2000s, the Afghan education system just fell apart because there were no qualified teachers aside from the Imam, who was merely an Islamic religious leader.

As of 2024, there are now 82 established Deaf schools. The Deaf School of Kabul is a non-profit school run by a Deaf man, Abdul Ghaffar. The school is coed and has over 600 students. In addition, there are also 22 Deaf teachers. The school’s mission is to focus on reading, writing, and other skills in general education. These are skills for students to gain and potentially end the cycle of poverty for their families. There are challenges faced at every corner, especially for Deaf people. The school wants Deaf people to learn together as a community and know that they are not handicapped or a burden to society. They want to promote understanding among families, the community, and the majority of the country to end the stigmas of simply shutting the Deaf out of society.

Efforts to Address the Issues of the Deaf Community

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A future with the Taliban in power paints a rather grim picture for Afghanistan. It begins with the expulsion of Deaf people, particularly women, from receiving an education. Without education, there are virtually no prospects. They are in a dire situation of cyclical poverty and resort to begging or being forced into manual labor. 

Taliban Welfare

The Taliban has a welfare system that assists families, but the amount depends on some factors. If a Taliban member has war-related injuries, it’s around 60,000-180,000 Afghanis ($800-$2,000) per year. On the flip side, if it’s a non-Taliban member with non-war-related injuries, it’s 36,000- 96,000afghanis ($400-$1,000) per year. The Taliban members always get their money. For non-Taliban members, it’s a different story. This money from the welfare system is not enough to cover the expenses. The situation is so catastrophic for the Deaf community that some borrow money from the community, which is even harder given the widespread poverty. 

International Support

The ones suffering the most are the women of Afghanistan, both Deaf and hearing. International support is a must to turn things around and rewrite their story. The problem is many countries in the West that can do this are still finding ways to work with the Taliban regime. The United States Institute for Peace published an article in February of 2024, The Challenges Facing Afghans with Disabilities urging organizations to take action and realize where the help and assistance is needed. They advocate for empowering women by providing vocational training, education programs, and income-generation projects. Overall, they are advocating for human rights and the improvement of living conditions, with a focus on the Deaf and disabled community.

It’s not solely about establishing another international presence in Afghanistan. It’s about creating a level of understanding with the Taliban to urge them to extend rights to women, especially in the Deaf community. 

The Deaf community in Afghanistan faces several challenges, such as a lack of educational and employment opportunities, communication barriers, and stigma. There must be extensive support, advocacy, and awareness to create a better future. There must be action to create an inclusive and equitable society for the Deaf community and people with disabilities in Afghanistan. 

Want to get involved in the Deaf community? Visit, https://www.unspokenasl.com/

Thumbnail Photo Credit to: Photo by Abdul Naser Sahebzada