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Amir Amanullah Khan claims the Kingdom of Afghanistan
Khan begins to modernize Afghanistan. He establishes diplomatic relations with other nations and passes reforms expanding woman’s rights, education and freedom of the press. -
The first school for girls is opened in Kabul
Amunallah Khan’s wife, Queen Soraya, opens Afghanistan’s first school for girls in Kabul. During the early 1920s, she also starts a women’s hospital and a magazine called ERshad-E-Niswan (Guidance for Women). -
The Family Code Law is introduced
Khan introduces the Family Code law, which bans child marriage and requires judicial permission for polygamy. -
Afghanistan's first constitution is created
Afghanistan creates its first constitution, which abolishes slavery and forced labor, creates a legislature and guarantees secular education and equal rights for men and women. -
Women can choose their husbands
Khan grants women the right to choose their husbands, something previously decided by male relatives. -
Khan is forced to flee
Tribal leaders, angered by Khan’s reforms, force him to flee the country. Mohammed Nadir Shah claims the throne and quickly abolishes many of Khan’s reforms. Afghanistan returns to Shariah law and remains a monarchy for the next 40 years. -
Afghanistan's leader is assassinated
Tribal leaders, angered by Khan’s reforms, force him flee the country. Mohammed Nadir Shah claims the throne and quickly abolishes many of Khan’s reforms. Afghanistan returns to Shariah law and remains a monarchy for the next 40 years. -
Women are unveiled
During an independence day celebration, women from the royal family appear unveiled, marking the end of state-enforced veiling. -
Afghan government is pressured
Marxist Anahita Ratebzad forms an offshoot of the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). They pressure the Afghan government to combat illiteracy and to end forced marriages and walwar, a payment made by a prospective husband to a woman’s parents. -
The Constitution and democracy becomes modernized
A new constitution creates a modern democracy with free elections, equal rights, freedom of speech, universal suffrage, and allows women to enter into politics. -
Modernization continues
Shah takes an official trip overseas and Mohammed Daoud Khan seizes power in a bloodless coup. Khan installs himself as president instead of King and attempts to pass some liberalizing reforms, but they’re not enacted outside of urban areas. -
The PDPA takes over the government
The PDPA takes over the government, resulting in further social reforms including separation of religion and government, banning burquas and raising the minimum age of marriage. -
More rights for women
A decree from the PDPA-controlled government requires education for girls, abolishes walwar and sets the legal age for marriage at 16. -
Women are encouraged
The PDPA government, led by leftist Babrak Karmal, encourages women “to further their education and to take jobs, often in the government.” -
Afghan government is overthrown
The Soviet Union officially topples the Afghan government. Their occupation lasts nearly a decade. -
Afghanistan becomas a Cold War pawn
Afghanistan becomes a major Cold War pawn between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The CIA pours money and advanced weaponry into rural Afghanistan to support the guerilla fighters known as mujahideen. -
Muslim idealists are drawn to Afghanistan
The insurrection against the Soviet Union attracts young Muslim idealists from the Arab world to Afghanistan. These include Osama bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri, who later found al Qaeda network. -
The Taliban comes to power
The Taliban institute a severe version of Shariah Law, requiring men to grow beards and women to fully veil themselves. Those who disobey are punished. -
The September 11th attack
Al Qaeda operatives linked to Bin Laden hijack planes and crash them into buildings in New York and Washington, D.C. -
The Taliban is incooperative
The Taliban refuses to turn in Bin Laden. British and American forces begin air strikes in Afghanistan and take Kabul. -
The Taliban control ends
The last Taliban stronghold in Kandahar falls. Taliban rule ends as U.S. and British forces sweep across Afghanistan. -
Men and women are supposed to be equal
A new constitution gives equal rights to men and women. -
Women vote for the first time
Despite unrest, Afghanistan holds its first democratic elections and, for the first time in decades, women are allowed to vote. Hamid Karzai, who is backed by the U.S., wins 55% of the vote. -
Afghanistan is warned
U.N. Security Council warns that Afghanistan may become a failed state owing to a growing insurgency, increases in drug trafficking and an unstable government -
Shia Family Law is passed
Karzai’s government passes the Shia Family Law, which requires women to ask permission to leave the home unless under urgent business and allows a man to have sexual relations with his wife even if she objects. After international backlash, Karzai says he’ll overturn the law if it’s found to contradict the constitution or Islamic law. -
The Personal Status Law is revised
The parliament approves a slightly revised Personal Status Law for Shiite Muslims. One provision of the law allows a husband to demand sex from his wife. Protests begin and one women’s rights worker is killed. -
Women are afraid of their rights being vulnerable
Over 1,600 tribal leaders and community activists meet to discuss the peace process. President Karzai proposes economic incentives to discourage Taliban members from fighting. Many women’s groups are outraged at the idea of negotiations with the Taliban that could leave women’s rights vulnerable. -
Rights are improving but fragile
At the ten year anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion, 2.7 million girls were in school, compared to just a few thousand in Taliban times. But those improvements are already slipping and could be lost in negotiations with the Taliban. Another report marking the anniversary, by Action Aid, says that 72 percent of Afghan women believe their lives are better now than 10 years ago, while 86 percent fear a return to Taliban rule. -
Where is Afghanistan Now?
Although women in Afghanistan are receiving more rights, there is still much danger to them. They are no longer required to wear a full burqa and are allowed to take cases to court but they aren't respected and many feel helpless. There are fears of the Taliban ruling again; they still have a presence in rural areas.