“My heart has been heavy with the burden of these restrictions”

Khalida

Journalist, Nimroz

A masked and veiled young woman in coloured outfit stands, barely visible through a broken screened window.

Khalida, 23, had been employed as a reporter at a local radio station until the Taliban takeover on 15 August 2021. Despite being from a traditional background where she initially lacked permission to work, she tenaciously pursued a career in media, successfully making a name for herself, winning three awards and titles in less than a year.

“I come from a conservative family. Initially, they discouraged me from pursuing higher education. Even when I managed to study journalism, they insisted that I could only enter the teaching profession. However, my passion for media eventually convinced my family to let me work in the field.

The fall of my city in August 2021, left me feeling disheartened. It was difficult to witness the return of societal taboos I had worked so hard to challenge. I was determined to change society’s mindset, even though I had been stigmatized as a ‘bad girl’. Starting over was incredibly tough. I often wondered if I’d be permitted to pursue further education, even if I had to wear a burqa.

I became temporarily housebound. During this period, I experienced severe depression and even contemplated suicide multiple times. However, with tremendous effort, I managed to find work in a national media organization. [I applied for the job online and passed the interview. I go to the office wearing a burqa and mostly interview women. But I cannot do the same stories as men do so I face limitations in my work.]

The most disheartening challenge I faced [while working as a journalist] was the gender-based discrimination in access to information. It was distressing to witness that a man could easily access the information he required, while a woman’s access to necessary information was hindered simply because of her gender. This discrimination often forced me to wait outside the offices of government officials, press conferences and various events. In many instances, I even had to abandon news stories due to this discrimination.

My heart has been heavy with the burden of these restrictions. I’ve had enough of seeing people play with the fate of Afghan women. I call on the international community to advocate for our rights. Obtaining one’s rights should not be such a challenging endeavour, nor should granting these rights be an impossible task.”

“Confined within my home, I have maintained faith in the power of the written word”