Harry Reid: “this week we have watched on television the images of women in various places in Afghanistan, in cities, towns, running…”

“this week we have watched on television the images of women in various places in Afghanistan, in cities, towns, running into the streets without male relatives and throwing away their burqas. I was here a week ago talking about how women were treated in Afghanistan. I brought with me the eyeshade they must wear, which is netting they can barely see out of and people can see nothing beyond. All over Afghanistan, women can wear these if they want, but they are not required. A week ago, women would have been beaten publicly, or even executed, for these acts. Under the Taliban's rule, women could not work outside the home, receive an education, or even leave their home unless accompanied by a close male relative--brother, father, or husband. The defeat of the Taliban means that Afghan women are now free from the Taliban's brutal rule. As we begin the peace process and reconstruction of the Afghan Government, we cannot forget about the women who, in spite of the Taliban's harsh edicts, risked their lives to run home schools and health clinics. That is just not a matter of a few words. They actually risked their lives by taking care of sick people and teaching kids how to read. We have to remember that, prior to the Taliban's rule, Afghan women were scientists, professors, Members of Parliament, and university professors. They led corporations and nonprofit organizations.”