“I continued with my work, but I faced constant [death] threats from the Taliban”

“I am living with my mother and two younger brothers, and I am the breadwinner of my family. When the Taliban seized power and took control of all parts of Afghanistan on 15 August 2021, I was just in my third year of university. Before this, I considered myself very lucky because I was pursuing my dream degree (journalism) and my childhood dream of appearing on television was coming true. However, after the Taliban regained strength and took control, my childhood dream became nothing more than a distant memory. 

I was not only a student but also working as a reporter at a private institution. Over time, the Taliban gained access to all organizations, took control of everything, and imposed widespread and systematic discrimination, along with the harshest restrictions and deprivations.  

The worst thing that happened in my life was losing my father because he was a military general who had not settled with the Taliban. The Taliban abducted my father and to this day, he is missing and they have seized all our assets.  

My mother decided that I should marry my cousin, and I thought that by accepting this marriage, our life would improve. But I was unaware of the storms that would follow, which were about to steal the remaining joy in my life. 

Now, with a thousand pains, I continue my life, doing housework in people’s homes, seeking food and feeding family members. The Taliban have set our lives and the lives of girls like me on fire and turned them into ashes. I will not forgive them for our situation. 

As an Afghan woman, I demand that the international community reach out and urge them to ensure a better future for millions of Afghan women and girls, to allow them to shine and be happy in the future.”