Gender reassignment under the rule of the Taliban Regime.

Afghanistan has thousands of LGBT people (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) who were born into different families across the country. Since the population census has not been conducted due to the crisis of the last few decades and insecurity in Afghanistan, the exact number of LGBT people is unknown in the country. But approximately more than 10 thousand people are living with the LGBT gender in Afghanistan. Due to the high birth rate in Afghanistan, the birth rate of LGBT people is also very high. Every day dozens of people are born with these social and natural characteristics, and when they step into adolescence, their sexual nature is revealed and they face many difficulties with these natural physical changes.  

Although a person's gender is determined by the appearance of their genitalia at or before birth, unfortunately not determined or identified by the internal organs or chromosomes or other biological markers that a person exhibits during their puberty years. Therefore, with these sudden biological changes, the lives of these people are transformed and they are deprived of all their human rights in the traditional society of Afghanistan. Even their parents and their relatives turn away from them.

During the rule of the previous government with the presence of the international community, dozens of human rights institutions were active in Afghanistan, with the existence of these national and international human rights organizations, transgender people were having difficult times. Most of them were forced to live secretly in any part of the country and hide from people's eyes, Even in that times hiding was the only way they could do that.  

Now that Afghanistan; has fallen into the hands of one of the most fundamentalist groups, the living conditions of these transsexuals have worsened, and the entire population of several thousand people of transgender is highly at risk of destruction. Currently, transgenderism is a serious taboo in Afghanistan, and from the point of view of the Taliban's leaders, it is considered a phenomenon against the morals and religion of Islam. The Taliban regime does not accept anything that is against the religion of Islam and takes action to destroy it, which means, they can kill transgenders in the field and in illegal courts very easily. Because there is not any human rights defenders, and no human rights rules and regulation. 

Transgenders not only face the threat of extermination from the Taliban but are also widely sexually assaulted by members of this group in rural areas. Because sexually exploiting this vulnerable segment of society is only not a crime for the Taliban, but it is even considered a reward based on the Taliban's thinking. On the other hand, transgender is harassed also by ignorant and unrestrained men, local people, and youngsters. Most ignorant men make immoral and sexual demands on them. If they do not accept, they will be subjected to violence, beatings, and sexual harassment. 

A new report by OutRight Action International and Human Rights Watch shows that LGBT People of Afghanistan, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and people who do not conform to rigid gender norms in Afghanistan confront highly grave threats to their safety and lives. The report interviewed 60 LGBTs in late 2021 and most interviewees were in Afghanistan, while others had fled to nearby countries where they remain in danger, including being forcibly returned. Just a few have resettled in countries where they feel safe.

 Many of those interviewed reported being attacked, sexually assaulted, or directly threatened by Taliban members because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Others reported abuse from family members, neighbors, and romantic partners who now support the Taliban or believed they had to act against LGBT people close to them to ensure their own safety. Some fled their homes from attacks by Taliban members or supporters pursuing them.

 Unfortunately, the miserable life of transgenders in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban has caused all of them to seek gender change. Because people with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sexual orientations are not safe, and the biggest threat from the ruling extremist group, the Taliban, is directed at them. Although fleeing is an option, this opportunity is also not available due to travel restrictions from inside Afghanistan, land borders being blocked, and a lack of foreign support. They are forced to change their gender, However, gender reassignment is also dangerous, and the Taliban group has also banned gender reassignment by using Islamic Shari'a, which they created themselves.

It was a few weeks ago that the Ministry of Health of the Taliban declared the act of "sex change" illegal. Qalandar Ebad, the Taliban's health minister, said in a press conference: "This ministry has appealed about gender reassignment and according to the Sharia fatwa, it has never been allowed." He, who is a doctor himself, further said: "From the point of view of Islam, gender change and whether a man wants to change to a woman or a woman to a man is not permissible." Suppression and elimination of the LGBT community by the Taliban is not a new issue, but the addition of the act of "gender change" to the list of prohibitions once again shows the Taliban's insistence and commitment to suppressing this community.

 It is to say that, the situation is so dire for this group that even if they have Islamic knowledge as much as a religious man, they are not safe and must be eliminated from society. So, the trans gender’s social and economical life situation is extremely dire. Under the shadow of the Taliban, there are virtually no economic opportunities for trans people. They are struggling with economic, social, and security problems to be alive. Even widely subjected to sexual abuse, threats, rape, and murder, and many of these vulnerable people are killed by their families, religious groups, and now the Taliban militants. Therefore, they see gender reassignment as the only solution to achieve peace and be alive under the rule of the Taliban Regime in Afghanistan. For this purpose, they even go to other countries like Pakistan, Iran, and India to perform gender reassignment at a huge cost.

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