Julia Hartley-Brewer’s Controversial Tweet and the Plight of LGBTQ+ and Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

A recent tweet by Julia Hartley-Brewer, a prominent British television presenter, has sparked outrage and condemnation for its insensitive and seemingly transphobic content. In her tweet, Hartley-Brewer made a controversial comment in response to an LGBTQ+ journalist who claimed to have been compared to the Taliban for supporting the transgender community. The tweet, which has been widely criticized, is not only offensive to the LGBTQ+ community but also insensitive to the plight of women and LGBTQ+ individuals in Afghanistan, where the Taliban’s oppressive rule has stripped them of basic rights and freedoms.

At least the Taliban know what a woman is. https://t.co/v82LvJrGvQ

— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) August 29, 2023

The Controversial Tweet

On August 29th, Julia Hartley-Brewer reposted a tweet from an LGBTQ+ journalist who had been compared to the Taliban for supporting the transgender community. In her comment, she said, “At least the Taliban know what a woman is.” This tweet was met with a swift and strong backlash, with many users accusing Hartley-Brewer of being transphobic and offensive.

The Taliban’s Record on Women’s Rights

Hartley-Brewer’s tweet is particularly troubling because it appears to downplay the severe human rights violations committed by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, women and girls have faced a draconian regime that has rolled back their rights and freedoms. This includes mandatory full-body coverings, bans on attending secondary school and university, restrictions on using gyms and parks, and the closure of beauty salons.

According to a report to the UN Human Rights Council, women and girls in Afghanistan are experiencing severe discrimination amounting to gender persecution and gender apartheid. The report highlights the extreme risk to women’s health due to restrictions on accessing medical care provided by female doctors. There is a real danger of preventable deaths, which could be categorized as femicide.

The Plight of the LGBTQ+ Community

In addition to their inhumane treatment of women, the Taliban has shown extreme intolerance towards the LGBTQ+ community. Many queer individuals have fled Afghanistan to avoid persecution and violence at the hands of the regime. Queer refugees have described their journeys as traumatic, marked by fear and uncertainty.

Sohil, a gay medical student who managed to escape to Pakistan, revealed that he had been burned with scalding water by a Taliban official and imprisoned for three days, enduring physical abuse and privacy invasion. He now lives in fear, longing for a place where he can openly be himself and no longer hide in the shadows.