The August 15, 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan devastated the lives of millions of Afghans. But the rights and freedoms of women and girls in particular have been progressively trampled by a series of edicts that have created a virtual system of gender apartheid.
Yet, despite great restrictions, many girls and young women are taking a stand and resisting in whatever way they can. In line with the 2024 International Day of the Girl theme, ‘Girls’ vision for the future’, Afghan young women and girls speak out despite severe restrictions and share their visions for the future. With anonymized photos and names and locations changed to protect their identity, their unvarnished stories appear on the After August platform – a collaboration of UN Women, Limbo and Zan Times. What follows are exceptions that capture the fear, anger and profound sense of loss that shapes their lives – but also their resistance and resilience.
Negina:
“Although they’ve deprived me of my education, I have taught 12 other individuals, and this kind of fight against ignorance and illiteracy will be victorious, with time. …I am making the most of my current captivity. In these days of deprivation, I’ve come to realize two vital values: the struggle for freedom, though challenging, is rewarding, and every person should taste it. And secondly, that there is no sacrifice more pleasant than sacrificing for freedom. …The future generations will not be victims of this turmoil. Today, all I can do is to remain hopeful, continue studying and coordinate my all efforts to bring more people onto this beautiful caravan.” —Negina, a 15-year-old student-turned-teacher from Bamyan.
Parisa:
“The Taliban have turned women into puppets who must dress, behave, not speak and obey their wishes. They think that men are superior and that women were created to serve them. They view women with contempt and do not accept our presence in society. I have learned that stopping means death, and I will always fight to the best of my ability. …I wanted to become a doctor, but the Taliban closed the doors of universities. However, institutes for studying nursing and midwifery are still open so I’m attending one of these private institutes to study midwifery and living the dream of helping women in remote areas who do not have access to a hospital. I urge everyone watching not to leave Afghan women alone because if we become victims, the world will never find peace.” —Parisaan 18-year-old student from Mazar.
Mahnaz:
“… engagement was forced upon me after the return of the Taliban. I still vividly remember the day I cried out loud when I got engaged. I felt helpless and found myself in a situation where I had no say in my decisions. …I’m not alone in this predicament. …For all girls who have been unable to complete their education, marriage is not a choice but a forced reality. I dream of better days at night, but face hopelessness by day. I have even developed suicidal thoughts. …” —Mahnaza forced bride and former student from Farah.
Sadaf:
“I might not have been born under a lucky star, but I consider myself a resilient young girl. Challenges are what I embrace, and I firmly believe that nothing can deter me from my dreams. …I’ve cried and felt really down at times. But I’ve never lost hope. My journey as a writer began with the publication of my first work of fiction, A Memento Doll, and I’m determined to continue without looking back. My message to all Afghan women is this: Keep hope in your hearts, and never give up on your dreams. Think about how a diamond and coal are made of the same stuff, but the difference is in how much pressure they can handle. We, as women, can choose whether to become like diamonds, strong and brilliant, or stay like coal.” —Sadafan 18-year-old writer from Kapisa.
Nazmina:
“… after August, all my aspirations suddenly turned to dust, like a sweet dream transforming into a terrifying nightmare. …I decided not to surrender. Instead, I chose to fight against the Taliban and the current circumstances. …Leveraging my existing knowledge, I started online computer and English language classes. I also initiated online reading sessions for girls. … It is my belief that the Taliban should not fear girls going to schools and universities. Instead, they should fear the girls who, despite being imprisoned in their homes, read a hundred pages of a book daily. The Taliban must understand that the current generation of Afghan women and girls is vastly different from the women who lived under their past regime. …We believe in better days, days when ignorance and darkness will succumb to knowledge and awareness.” —Nazmina, a former journalism student from Kapisa.
Ghotai:
“I have faced many obstacles in my life because I’m a girl. I was deprived of many things I wanted to do, like art, music, sports and more. Dealing with all these struggles taught me never to stop fighting for my dreams and future. I have never stopped dreaming about all the fantastic ways we can build our future. I have worked hard to keep up with my education in a place where no girl is allowed to go to school. I want to be one of the examples of brave Afghan women and girls who never lost hope, reached peaks of success and continued to serve their country and their people.” —Ghotaia former computer science student from Baghlan.
Sarah:
“My days are spent in a corner of the house. … Sometimes I think of running away from home, but if I fall into the hands of the Taliban due to escaping from home, they will lash me. Afghan girls are waiting for schools to reopen, but I have lost my chance to wait for school. I will never forgive the Taliban for their crimes.” —Saraha 16-year-old child bride from Samangan.
Motahara:
“We want to live. We want to express our opinions. We want to be heard, to show the world that Afghan girls can build and endure. I know I can succeed, and until my last breath, I will fight to reclaim my rights, provide a better life for my children, and tell all Afghan girls not to let the sacrifices we have made over the years go in vain. We must rise, united as one voice, and demonstrate that we can achieve our fundamental rights to work, an education and freedom.” —Motahara, a baker and former nursing student from Logar.
Rabia:
“Since I refused to remain silent in the face of such an oppressive regime, I joined the ranks of other resilient women in the streets and joined them in demanding women’s rights against the Taliban. We participated in numerous protests and were determined to challenge the unfair restrictions imposed on us. The country’s stability is at a critical point with sudden, oppressive restrictions on women, causing fear and insecurity. From my perspective, Afghanistan has turned into a women’s prison that is even more restrictive than the prison where I’d worked. In that prison, women had certain rights, including the right to play sports. …I appeal to the international community not to support the Taliban and to pay attention to the difficult living conditions of women in Afghanistan.” —Rabiaa basketball athlete from Herat.
About the Author: Jen Ross is a foreign correspondent and currently consulting with UN Women.
All photos by: Sayed Habib Bidell
