One cannot deny basic human rights to people while asking them to follow Sharia law. A religious law (Sharia) was created for the safety of women and also because of injustice, and today, injustice is still occurring under the name of religion”— Warina Hussain
The events that unfolded in Afghanistan recently have left people around the world shaken up. Taliban’s takeover resulted in chaos, confusion and an alarming sense of unrest and fear among the people of Afghanistan and many others who are currently stranded there. Bollywood actress Warina Hussain, 25, moved from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan years ago due to the long-standing political turmoil in the country. After that, she migrated to India 10 years ago, and she made the country her home. Warina, who made her Bollywood debut in 2018 with Loveyatri, says that she can relate to those wanting to leave Kabul in the aftermath of the Taliban seizing power. “My life was a struggle. I have no father. If you don’t have a man in your family, it’s more difficult. Since the conditions in Afghanistan were not good, we went to Uzbekistan,” the actress had revealed in a previous interview. The family stayed there for four years before moving to India as they could speak Hindi and English. Given the craze for Bollywood films in Afghanistan, Warina and her mother were familiar with Hindi over Uzbek or Russian. After modelling in Delhi for a while, she moved to Mumbai, where she finally made her foray into Bollywood.
The actress whose family has now migrated to the United States, said, “I was supposed to join them, but I chose to make Mumbai my home. I have worked hard to establish a career for myself here.” Talking exclusively to Bombay Times from the UK, where she is currently shooting for a film, Warina voiced her thoughts on the raging crisis in Afghanistan. Excerpts from the conversation…
Afghanistan is facing a massive humanitarian crisis today. Visuals of people trying to cling onto flights to leave the country or crowding the airport in the hope to seek refuge in other countries are tragic. What went through your mind as you saw the events unfold on news channels?
I saw myself in each Afghan person clinging onto a flight for the sake of survival. My life, like theirs, is the result of migration from a war-torn country. My family moved from country to country in search of a better life. Finally, we arrived in India, a liberal and loving country that welcomed us and we made it our home. Like anyone else fighting for survival, I began working at a young age and had no idea I would one day become a Bollywood actress. After years of struggle, a big launch by Salman Khan sir (who produced Loveyatri) and an opportunity by AR Rahman sir (99 Songs), made me eternally grateful. Having walked in the shoes of someone who has migrated, I can tell you that it is not an easy journey. Not every immigration ends up being a success story. That is why, for the past few days, all I have been thinking about is the survival of the Afghan people. Since the war in Afghanistan began, the number of Afghan refugees fleeing for their lives has increased dramatically, raising the question of how long will they be able to do so. If the country does not achieve the long-awaited peace it deserves, what I have suffered, what my mother has faced, and what others are facing now will become the tale for future generations, too.
The Taliban claimed in their press conference that the rights of women in Afghanistan will be respected ‘within the framework of Islamic law’. Do you trust these reassurances?
The cruel memories of the past still send shivers down our spine, and given the current uncertain situation, trust is a luxury the Afghan people cannot afford anymore.
You have predominantly lived in an Afghanistan that did not have Taliban rule. At that point, was life better for women in terms of safety and education?
Yes, I have lived in Afghanistan where I enjoyed family picnics and the smell of independence. However, since it was still a country with newly gained independence from the Taliban, it had its dos and don’ts. For instance, a girl couldn’t go out alone at night. There were times when I couldn’t step out alone at night to get medicines for my unwell mother. It’s the product of many years of war, which has tainted people’s views. If we actually want to talk about a peaceful Afghanistan, we need to go back to the time of my grandmother and her forefathers, when Kabul was known for its fashion, art and culture, tourism, trade, and independence were all part of everyday life. Speaking of leadership, it’s high time the people of Afghanistan have the basic freedom of choosing their own leaders.
How do you think the current political situation in the country will impact women and their rights?
I am afraid that all of these years of progress will vanish into thin air, and that after years of fighting for women’s rights, women will once again be treated as second-class citizens and deprived of basic rights.
Would you feel safe enough to visit your country under Taliban rule as a Bollywood actress?
Whether I’m an actor or not, I’ll never be comfortable visiting any country where women are restricted from simply being free humans.
A lot has been spoken about the implementation of Sharia law (religious law) in Afghanistan by Taliban. How does it affect women and children?
Khadija, Prophet Muhammad’s wife, was one of the first to accept Sharia. A religious law was created for the safety of women and also because of injustice, and today, injustice is still occurring under the name of religion. I’ve heard of girls being forced out of their homes against their will to marry men they despise. These men should be held accountable for the lives of innocent mothers and children killed in bomb blasts. One cannot deny basic human rights to people while asking them to follow Sharia law.
As an Afghan working in India, what are your expectations from the Indian government or other countries at the moment?
I am confident that India, as a friend of Afghanistan for decades, will do its bit. However, I would like to urge the United Nations to step in because the concept of a peaceful country is preferable to simply relocating asylum seekers. One may flee, find a better life, but the identity crisis, multi-cultural problems, and deep-down homesickness will remain. One will always struggle to answer the question, ‘Aren’t we all one world?’
