When the Taliban took back control of the country in August 2021 many Afghans, particularly women and girls, believed that history was being repeated. For them, the return of harsh limitations on their everyday lives went hand in hand with the change of government: schools were shut down for girls, women were forced out of employment, and the liberties they had gradually acquired over the previous 20 years were abruptly taken away (Amnesty International, 2023). It was not just a change of government but the return of very severe restrictions on their daily lives.

Though not in the same way, the world responded swiftly. Western nations discussed whether to recognize the Taliban and they also suspended aid. Powers in the region however remained cautious. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) appeared to be in a unique position to respond during this crisis.

The OIC refers to itself as the "collective voice of the Muslim world" and represents 57 nations with a majority of Muslims. Theoretically, this gave it the moral obligation and religious authority to advocate for Afghan women. Many believed that the OIC would refute the Taliban's religious assertions and demonstrate that Islam does not oppose women's rights. However, those hopes have mostly diminished after three years. The OIC has mainly focused on humanitarian relief, including food, medicine, and emergency support, rather than taking decisive action. Unlike in cases such as Syria or Myanmar, where the OIC spoke more strongly, Afghanistan has seen only cautious diplomacy and soft language.

What is the OIC?

After the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation(OIC) is the second-largest intergovernmental organization in the world. It was established in 1969. It asserts that its 57 member states speak for the 1.8 billion Muslims who live around the world.  In addition to promising to advance justice, development, as well as human rights, its charter places a very strong emphasis on solidarity, unity, and also on the defense of Islamic principles. Originating from political and religious crises in the Muslim world, the OIC has evolved over the years into a forum for coordinating stances on humanitarian, Islamophobic, and Palestine issues. Furthermore, it established specialized organizations like human rights commissions and the Islamic Development Bank, though their efficacy and independence are frequently questioned.

The OIC's dependence on consensus is one of its main problems. Even a small number of member states can thwart more powerful measures because it functions on the principle of unanimity. Its unwillingness to meddle in internal matters, especially when they concern Islamic legitimacy, is another difficulty.  According to Kayaoglu (2015), the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, which shaped the OIC's human rights framework, frequently places a higher priority on state sovereignty and "Islamic values" than on universal human rights norms.

These structural flaws are very important to Afghan women. Because it can claim to speak to the Taliban in the language of Islam and has religious legitimacy that Western governments do not, the OIC has the potential to be a very strong player. However, its interventions are frequently less effective than anticipated due to its limitations, which include political divisions as well as its very cautious approach to human rights.

The OIC’s Actions in Afghanistan After 2021

The Muslim world was alarmed by the Taliban's August 2021 takeover of Afghanistan. A few months later, in December 2021, the OIC called an Extraordinary Session of its Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad. The OIC established a Humanitarian Trust Fund run by the Islamic Development Bank during this meeting in recognition of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. In order to keep an eye on developments, it also designated a Special Envoy for Afghanistan.

These actions appeared promising on paper. However, food security, health care, and economic stability were the main humanitarian concerns. A brief reference to women's and girls' rights was made, using ambiguous language about guaranteeing their access to employment and education "in accordance with Islamic Sharia".  The Taliban's gender policies were not subject to any accountability procedures.

Even the 2022 and 2024 reports from the Special Envoy were very cautious. While acknowledging the challenges faced by Afghan women, they emphasized the importance of interacting with the Taliban. It was argued that harsh criticism might further isolate Kabul and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

On the other hand, the OIC launched more forceful political campaigns and issued harsher condemnations when Muslims in Myanmar were subjected to ethnic cleansing or when the conflict in Syria intensified. However, the OIC's strategy in Afghanistan has been to proceed cautiously, give humanitarian aid top priority, and refrain from portraying women's rights as an unassailable issue.

The Gap Between Humanitarian Aid and Women’s Rights

There is a concerning disconnect between the OIC's focus on humanitarian assistance and at the same time its concurrent advocacy for women's rights. It implies that supplying medicine and food to the hungry is deemed more urgent than protecting the rights of half of Afghanistan's population. Humanitarian aid is obviously necessary, but it cannot replace equality, justice, and dignity in society.

The scope of the crisis is demonstrated by reports from UN Women (2022), Human Rights Watch (2022), and also that of the Amnesty International (2023): Afghan women have been denied access to most jobs, denied secondary and higher education, made to follow rigid dress codes, and also denied basic freedoms like freedom of movement. Afghanistan is now frequently referred to as the only "gender apartheid state" in the world.

This gap has real consequences. Humanitarian aid may keep people alive, but without rights, women are excluded from shaping the future of their country.

Implications of Silence

There is a price for the OIC's cautious diplomacy. Afghan women interpret it as a sign of desertion. Many believed that the OIC could exert pressure on the Taliban in ways that were not possible for Western governments. Its silence limits the room for Islamic arguments in support of gender justice and strengthens the legitimacy of the Taliban.

The credibility issue is serious for the OIC itself. The OIC's assertion that it is the "collective voice of the Muslim world" is called into question by its avoidance of conflict in Afghanistan. The political calculations underlying its human rights discourse are revealed by its divided stances, which can be very strong in some situations as well as being very muted in others. Its moral authority is weakened as a result, both within and beyond the Muslim world.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The worst crisis for women's rights in the twenty-first century has been brought on by the Taliban's comeback to power in Afghanistan. Basic freedoms are denied, women are excluded from most professions, and schools are still closed to girls. The OIC had a rare chance to react because of its worldwide influence and religious legitimacy. Rather than strongly criticizing the Taliban's gender policies, it has restricted itself to providing humanitarian aid and verbal condemnations.

The OIC portrays itself as a protector of Islamic principles and human rights, but in reality, it puts political agreement and state sovereignty ahead of women's rights. This strategy reflects a deeper contradiction. Afghan women are abandoned by this silence, which also reduces the organization's reputation.

The OIC must expand beyond food and medicine in order to increase its adherence to human rights by:

• Create a long-term system to track and document women's rights in participating nations.
• Challenge radical interpretations of Islam that support gender apartheid by using its religious authority.
• Require measurable advancements in women's access to employment and education in order to qualify its development and humanitarian assistance.
• Collaborate with Muslim women's organizations and UN agencies to elevate reputable voices for change.

Afghanistan’s women do not need pity, they need allies who will speak clearly and act decisively. For the OIC, this is not just about Afghanistan. It is about proving whether the organization can live up to its mission as the collective conscience of the Muslim world.