“Whoever does not wear a hijab, their parents will be lashed, and the women will be sprayed with bullets”

Tahera

Teacher and activist, Baghlan

A woman carrying a bag and camera walks down a dirt road, with mountains and a town visible in the background.

“I have been working for the prosperity of my community, as a mother at home and as a teacher in the community. I also worked as a legal adviser and women’s rights activist.

Along with a group of civil society and women activists, we began volunteer work in 2018 under a policy framework of the Directorate of Women’s Affairs and Human Rights. We led many advocacy and awareness-raising activities for women.

But what happens now? A woman in our neighbourhood was beaten by her brother-in-law without any motives. I went to rescue her, but her brother-in-law threatened me and said: ‘If you come closer, I will beat you up too!’ [I do what I can,] indirectly.

I am a member of an advocacy network that sends documentary videos to media, does interviews and joins protests. I advocate for the rights of girls, women and imprisoned women activists, fighting for the rights of students and my sisters and I will continue fighting!

I still remember the day our district fell to the Taliban. We all left school. I escaped with my family to the countryside. As I am the only breadwinner in my family, all I could think was whether I would be able to support my family anymore. Would I be able to see the smiling faces of my students again?

When I returned to work after a week, it was not like before.

The city was like a ghost town. There were no women anywhere. It felt like some sort of funeral ceremony. Taliban leaders gathered community elders in a mosque and forced them to accept that wearing the hijab (veil) for women should be compulsory. They threatened that whoever does not wear a hijab, their parents will be lashed, and the women will be sprayed with bullets. The Taliban are ruthless and have no mercy.

After the Taliban takeover, girls are fully in isolation. They have been deprived of work, school and university studies. I was unable to tolerate such a situation, so I began a home-based school for my students so that they are not isolated. I was lucky that everyone, including my friends, welcomed my initiative and with the support of friends.

I have been teaching in hiding for six months. I feel that this is also a kind of struggle for a better life. I have about 50 girl students who attend classes at different hours of the day. These classes include grades 7 through 12 and include key school subjects. I also provide them with awareness about women rights, health and technology. We – all women – need to counter this deadlock through achievement.

International community: Please do not leave us alone! Protect our rights, particularly the rights of those women who stand strong. Those women need extensive support from the international community.”

“The return of the Taliban has extinguished all my aspirations”