By Nadia
On August 15, 2021, everything changed.
The extremist Taliban surrounded Kabul and took over Afghanistan. Once in power, the group enacted controlling rules that removed our rights and freedoms one by one and imposed severe restrictions on women’s opportunities.
It has now been more than three years and the Taliban have even managed to take away Afghan women’s motivation for living.
The catastrophic loss of freedom has happened step by step. First, they banned girls and women from schools and universities. Then they made women cover their faces while appearing on television and strictly policed their clothes they wear outside. They ordered women not to enter public places like parks and gardens. And they forbade women from outside employment in most businesses and institutions without consideration for their financial needs.
The regime stripped two decades of achievements away from Afghan girls and women. The result has been a deepening depression and sadness. With these rules and restrictions, the Taliban has eroded any hope in the things we were working so hard for.
Out of sheer survival, women and girls have turned to other activities, but the hopelessness is profound. Some turned to crafts to sell for income, some got married earlier than planned, but others have not been able to tolerate the injustices and they have ended their lives.
It has been more than three years since the Taliban came to power. Each passing day their power grows, it strips away the will of girls and women to live.
Note: Nadia is a 20-year-old student from Bamyan who was deprived of education after the Taliban banned girls above the sixth grade and prohibited women from attending universities. she is currently learning English language.
