One of things I most love about writing the LoveHabibi blog is discovering how love, dating and romance really do exist everywhere – even where you’d least expect them or where we’ve been led to believe it’s impossible for young couples to spend time together under any circumstances.
An Unlikely Couple?
Let’s take for example the words “dating” and “Afghanistan” – not so long ago, it seemed impossible to imagine such a concept.
Since the end of Taliban times, Afghanistan’s metamorphosis into democracy has not been without turbulence and International headlines are dominated with grim reports and tidings, focusing on US occupation, insurgences and the whereabouts of Bin Laden and more often than not, echoing suspicion that Hamid Karzai will make the necessary reforms.
Marriages are arranged in Afghanistan, pre-marital sex is against the law and dating is still far from the norm you see on the streets every day. So what are daily life and future prospects like for young Afghans? Can young men and women move freely, can they date in any way, shape or form? And if so, how are they doing so?
A Fine Romance…
There’s a great short video on ABC News, about how young Afghans in Kabul are heading out to a lake to hang out together on Fridays in mixed groups, and yes… even dating!
The images and testaments are surprising and uplifting – we can see young couples wandering off together for privacy and even peddling out into the water in boats made for two.
Dating in Moderation
Of course, there are no open displays of fornication, but respectfully and discretely, these young Afghans are openly spending time together just a short distance from Kabul.
The young Afghans in the video seem happy and relaxed and insist that they don’t see anything wrong in dating and spending time together in mixed groups. What’s so striking is that this is something that would have been unimaginable in times (only just) gone by.
Equally inspiring and hopeful is the fact that nobody is stopping them….