“My sport, my art and all my efforts became meaningless overnight”

Rangina

Athlete and former university student, Baghlan

Veiled young woman holds books in a meeting space, wearing a facemask.

“I was a basketball player on a provincial team and fought against cultural and social barriers for seven years. At the same time, I started working in a store in the city. Then, after some time I decided to train in the field of cosmetology.

After receiving a scholarship in Uzbekistan and working there for a year, I returned to Afghanistan to share the knowledge I had acquired with the girls of my home country and had endless plans for a future without setbacks.

But after the events of 15 August 2021, the black days for Afghanistan began, or rather, the black days for Afghan women. My sport, my art and all my efforts became meaningless overnight.

I tried to communicate with my teammates and coaches, but they cut off all channels of communication out of fear.

It wasn’t long before the Taliban brutally beheaded a member of the national women’s soccer team. When I heard this news, I could not muster the strength to get up from my seat.

With each passing day, everyone was overwhelmed by fear, despair and economic problems.

Despite these challenges, I couldn’t sit idly by. I decided to continue my higher education in computer science at a private university. A week after going to university, the Taliban ordered the closure of all universities in the country for girls. The decision to exclude girls from education, work and their activities in society shattered the hopes of all girls.

I enrolled in an English language course to further my education. However, the Taliban came to our classes every day, and if a girl didn’t wear a burqa, they would dismiss her from class with insults and humiliation, even if the girls were wearing headscarves. Their goal was to discourage girls from pursuing education, but no one dared to speak out.

Despite all our fears and limitations, we took matters into our own hands and went to the language learning course. One day, the Taliban came and, with insults and threats, expelled all the girls from the course. That day was the last day I attended the language learning course.

I had no hope left for life; there was nothing I hadn’t tried. I was even afraid to pick up a pen and notebook outside my home, lest the Taliban question me.

With all my problems, I left home again and worked at a salon for a small salary. But then, I heard terrifying news – that even beauty salons were closing. It was the last hope for me and many women and girls in my country.

For months, weeks and days, I anxiously followed the news, hoping until the last moments for a better tomorrow and a brighter and freer future for Afghanistan. Unfortunately, hope is no longer there for me, and with thousands of regrets, I remain silent, watching.”

“It was not easy for me to burn all the documents that so clearly demonstrated my achievements”