Afghan women lose their ‘last hope’ as Taliban shuts down internet
Amid the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan, the group has further tightened its grip on communication within the country by shutting down the internet. This move has left many Afghan women, who had used online platforms to seek support and share information, feeling isolated and without their “last hope” for connecting with the outside world.
The Taliban, which regained control of Afghanistan in August, cited the need to prevent the spread of “harmful content” and maintain security as reasons for the internet shutdown. The group has previously imposed strict restrictions on women’s rights, including access to education and work.
Women’s rights activists and organizations have condemned the internet shutdown, emphasizing its negative impact on Afghan women who relied on online resources to access vital information and support networks. They have expressed concerns about the escalating limitations on women’s freedoms under the Taliban regime.
The internet blackout has also drawn international criticism, with calls for the Taliban to restore connectivity to prevent further isolation of Afghan women and facilitate communication within the country. The United Nations and various human rights groups have raised alarms about the deteriorating situation for women in Afghanistan and the urgent need to protect their rights.
As Afghan women face increasing challenges and restrictions under Taliban rule, the internet shutdown represents a significant setback in their ability to communicate, seek help, and access essential resources.
Sources Analysis:
Source 1 – Women’s rights activists and organizations – These sources are likely to advocate for women’s rights and raise awareness about issues affecting women in Afghanistan, indicating a bias towards gender equality and human rights.
Source 2 – The Taliban – The Taliban has a history of imposing strict interpretations of Islamic law and restricting women’s rights, suggesting a vested interest in controlling communication and maintaining power through the internet shutdown.
Fact Check:
Fact 1 – Verified fact: The Taliban has shut down the internet in Afghanistan.
Fact 2 – Unconfirmed claim: Many Afghan women used online platforms for support and information, as this cannot be independently verified due to the internet shutdown.
Fact 3 – Verified fact: Women’s rights activists have criticized the internet shutdown.
Fact 4 – Verified fact: The United Nations and human rights groups have expressed concerns about the situation of women in Afghanistan.
—
Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Afghan women lose their ‘last hope’ as Taliban shuts down internet”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.