“The Taliban stripped me and all Afghan girls of the spirit of change”

“After completing my journalism degree, I took the Civil Service and Administrative Reforms Exam, and I became a reporter in the Afghan Parliament. I took pride in my work and had high aspirations for my future career. The day I received my first salary, I thought I had achieved the dreams I had nurtured for years.

My father always encouraged me, saying that work is not limited to men, and that financial independence is essential for both men and women.

My plan for the future was to start a master’s degree in international relations alongside my job. I had big dreams, from being the best reporter to becoming a high-ranking diplomat and ambassador.

However, after the fall of Kabul and the shutdown of several government institutions by the Taliban, I experienced a different world.

The fear of an uncertain future and losing my job led to mental and emotional problems. With each passing day, my mental condition worsened and became more severe. My family took me to see a neurologist and I took sedative medication for several months.

I have a bad memory of the Taliban’s religious morality police. One day, in a state of despair and hopelessness, I left my house wearing the proper hijab, but the Taliban stopped me and said, ‘Hey, unveiled girl, why are you dressed like that? They ordered me to go home and wear a long black dress. I replied that there was nothing wrong with my clothes and that I thought I was wearing the hijab correctly. Suddenly, I was hit in the face and one side of my face hurt badly. I came home crying and my eye was badly hurt. I took medication for a week to relieve the pain.

After the change of regime in Afghanistan, the Taliban imposed many restrictions on female journalists. As a result, most media outlets in Afghanistan do not hire female employees and journalists. Despite that, I was not discouraged and started collecting stories of women and presenting them through online platforms to ensure that the voices of Afghan women are heard and not stifled. This is the least I can do as a woman for other Afghan women.

My final message is that these are difficult days, filled with problems. Conditions for women are getting harder every day, and women are less visible outside. I hope that the women and men of this land will not remain victims of the misguided policies of some political opportunists and the oppressive and extremist Taliban group.”