“I firmly believe that, in the end, words will be more powerful than weapons”

Setara

protester, Herat

“The events that unfolded after 15 August 2021, with the resurgence of the Taliban, marked the beginning of a new era of oppression and cruelty for Afghan women. For me, a mother of seven, the weight of this harsh reality was crushing. My husband, once a police officer, had been wounded and left incapacitated during the fierce clashes with the Taliban. He could no longer provide for our family, leaving me as the sole breadwinner.

In my desperate search for work, I reached out to different organizations, hoping for a lifeline. The Taliban prefers to hire men, and they don’t give women a chance to work. This put my family in a tough spot. I had to make a difficult decision – allowing my 15-year-old daughter to get married. I know this might sound like a form of violence against her since she’s not of legal age for marriage, but my husband, who used to be a police officer and got injured during a conflict with the Taliban, couldn’t work anymore. We also had younger children to take care of, leaving us with few options.

With the Taliban’s return, violence against women within families increased dramatically. It was heartbreaking to see women resorting to self-harm and suffering from other forms of violence. We had no one to turn to for help, and the Taliban showed no mercy.

In our efforts to stand up for our rights and those of our girls, we participated in protests for women’s rights. Unfortunately, the Taliban responded with brutal violence, using water cannons against us and resorting to physical violence. As I lay on the ground, drenched and injured, a poignant question came to mind: ‘Why should we give up the rights God has given us, and why were there no men standing by us on that fateful day?’

Our fear of losing our lives turned into an unwavering determination to stand up for the rights of Afghan women, girls and future generations. Every day became a relentless struggle for us Afghan women and girls against male oppression, injustice and the harsh domination of the Taliban. We were like unarmed warriors who had entered the battlefield. But although we had no weapons, the power of our words was our powerful tool.

In this ongoing struggle, I hold onto the belief that speaking out will ultimately prove more effective than resorting to violence. Despite the ongoing chaos, I firmly believe that, in the end, words will be more powerful than weapons, and our unwavering commitment to fight for women’s rights will eventually succeed.”

“Even in our wildest dreams, we could not have foreseen these dark days”