“We have struggled to regain ground in a country where our work is now considered subversive”

Niloofer

Sociologist, Kabul

A woman holds her red hijab over her mouth and nose.

“I’ve dedicated my life to improving the lives of Afghan women. I have a Master’s degree in Sociology and have been working for a development institute for almost 15 years. Our mission has been to empower women in Kabul and help them stand up for their rights and dignity.

On a daily basis, my team and I made contact with women who had grown up in the dark days of Taliban rule. They had lost their connection to their own rights, and it was our job to make them aware of their human potential. They were women who could change society, and together we embarked on a journey of enlightenment. We worked tirelessly, offering a helping hand and spreading awareness. Our dream was simple but profound: to live in an informed and enlightened society. Little did we know that our world would soon be turned upside down.

In August 2021, our hopes were shattered as the Taliban swiftly returned to power. Everything I had worked for, my programmes, my dreams and my aspirations, crumbled before my eyes. Afghanistan, which was once a vibrant and hopeful nation, regressed three decades in a matter of days. Women were confined to their homes, unable to venture out without a male guardian. Educating women was now considered a crime and going to a university nothing but a distant fantasy. We returned to the days when the world remained oblivious to the talents and capabilities of Afghan women.

The sudden resurgence of the Taliban not only put me and my colleagues out of work, but also cast a dark shadow over the entire country. All our plans and efforts came to a halt. From that point on, we have struggled to regain ground in a country where our work is now considered subversive.

The restrictions and new orders imposed by the Taliban compounded the hardships of those who dared to oppose their draconian rules. Recently, there was a proclamation that sent shock waves through the hearts of all Afghan women: ‘schools and universities are closed, and women are no longer allowed to work.’ The fear is that tomorrow they might announce, ‘Life is suspended’.

It seems that the Taliban’s goal has been to erase women from society, to relegate them to the dark ages of ignorance and submission. But what the Taliban don’t understand is the resilience and determination of Afghan women. Despite all odds, we have continued to breathe, to live and to hope.

I believe in a future where we will celebrate the return of spring and the greening of our dreams, a future where our aspirations will be realized. We, the women of Afghanistan, face the darkness of the present. We hold onto our dreams and our indomitable spirit, awaiting the day when the sun will rise on a free and prosperous land.”

“The Taliban’s anti-female rule in this male-dominated society undoubtedly meant a terrifying life for me”