On August 15th, the Taliban entered Afghanistan and took control over the presidential palace in Kabul. As the Afghanistan government collapsed, President Ashraf Ghani has reportedly stepped down from the post and has left the country. As the world watches Afghanistan coming to it knees, there is one segment of population that has suffered more than the rest under the earlier rule of Taliban.
Afghan Women have witnessed endless atrocities under Taliban rule. And, now as Talibaan takes complete control of Afghanistan, here are the words of a woman journalist that shows how scared Afghan women are:
“The whole city has changed for women nearly overnight. Even walking on the street feels different. Life has stopped.”
During their earlier rule, the Taliban barred women from working outside the home or attending school. Women were required to wear the burqa and had to be accompanied by a male relative whenever they went outside. Another journalist tweeted,
“The fear of the Taliban’s arrival has already poisoned the public space for women. My sisters and friends in Kabul say; as they were rushing home today, people shouted at them, “The Taliban are coming because of you!” “The Taliban are here to discipline you!”
As Afghan women live under the fear and ambiguity, many netizens came forward to express their grief, sorrow and anger in support of Afghan women. Here are some of the heartfelt responses:
My heart goes out to #Afghanwomen and people of #Afghanistan ! How the word failed them ! Heartrending💔😔 pic.twitter.com/IJXVes4ZaB
— Paris Dean (@banopara) August 15, 2021
Horrific! Yesterday we celebrated Independence Day. Meanwhile in another country what little independence they had was taken away. #AfghanistanBurning #AfghanWomen pic.twitter.com/b4KubhvXUI
— Sumita Shrivastava 🇮🇳🚩🕉 (@Sumita327) August 16, 2021
The heartbreaking fall of #Kabul. Tonight these #AfghanWomen are locked in, afraid for their futures, and terrified of what may come. The world cannot turn away again from the #WomenOfAfghanistan and let them relive the brutal reign of the Taliban #WomensRights pic.twitter.com/Z2TfoVU7n1
— Fatima Kakkar, MD,MPH (@DrFatimaKakkar) August 16, 2021
Just a reminder of what Kabul, and Afghanistan, once was…a beautiful blend of west and the east and an ancient civilization that loved and lived freely #Afganistan #Afghan_lives_matter #AfghanWomen pic.twitter.com/Cj9azbU8Qj
— Deepali Nandwani (@NandwaniDeepali) August 15, 2021
Taliban forces have killed several #AfghanWomen journalists in recent months.@AnisaShaheed1 has persisted despite grave danger.
— Women’s Voices (@WomenReadWomen) August 16, 2021
In April, she was named journalist of the year.
“I am worried that the hard work in the past 20 years by the people of #Afghanistan will be lost.” pic.twitter.com/4vZNzafXa1
Be the voice of the voiceless…#AfghanWomen pic.twitter.com/pFmsMUyUws
— Favoud (@favoud_ahmad) August 14, 2021
Women and girls in Afganistan are going through the worst dystopian nightmare imaginable. Taliban going door to door to take girls as young as 12 as sex slaves. TWELVE! My heart breaks for the women of Afganistan. The world has failed them. #afghanistanunderattack #AfghanWomen
— Somayeh Faghanipour (@faghanipour) August 13, 2021
If you’re wondering how #AfghanWomen feel about being sacrificed by the international community, watch this powerful interview from the founder of one of the foremost women’s rights orgs in #Afghanistan, @AWNKabul, founded in 1996. https://t.co/6meXF4Tapw
— Farhat Popal (she/her) (@fpoplady) August 10, 2021
Imagine waking up one day being told your freedom, family, education, work & future has been taken away from you. For 20 yrs #AfghanWomen woke up every morning w this nightmare.
— Fereshteh Forough (@f_forough) August 13, 2021
NOW, they are waking up to this reality.
How does that feel?!
YOU have NO idea!#BeGoneTaliban pic.twitter.com/HuchY4KYdd
The news from #Afghanistan is devastating, my heart breaks everytime I think about what’s happening and going to happen to #AfghanWomen
Can’t take this out if my mind. 😭😭— Shohreh Haddadan (@ShohrehHd) August 13, 2021
#Taliban rules for #AfghanWomen. pic.twitter.com/RZZRuW7sUd
— 𝐓𝐞𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐯𝐢 🇮🇳 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐩 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡 ⚔️ (@real_tejasvi) August 16, 2021
#AfghanWomenMy heart goes out to #Afghanwomen and people of #Afghanistan ! How the word failed them ! pic.twitter.com/KaAgZO4UUe
— bentalk (@bentalk1) August 16, 2021
The world has failed #AfghanWomen
— Suraj🇮🇳 (@RockstarJaddu) August 16, 2021
We are sorry that we could not do anything for you. Just praying for you and praying that some sanity prevails in Talibans
How are we all silent about what’s happening to #AfghanWomen. Gutted 💔
— Mythreyee (@MythreyeeRamesh) August 15, 2021
All Right wing extremists across the world have one thing is common, they MOST fear a strong independent, educated woman in control of her mind, body and destiny. #KabulHasFallen #AfghanWomen #Taliban #WomenEmpowerment
— Zara Raj Parwal (@ZParwal) August 16, 2021
#AfghanWomen will have to cover themselves in burqa completely. 12 years old will be marrying #Talibans. What’s even worse is, 12 years olds will be used as sex slaves for insurgents. Abduction will be common. Women who raise their voices will be brutally assaulted. pic.twitter.com/9OKtstXpRQ
— Souwmiya Dhinesh (@sowmyasarathy) August 16, 2021
Lots going on but this is the saddest tragedy unfolding right in front of us. I can’t begin to imagine the feelings of the father fearing for his daughter’s lives or the brave yet powerless #AfghanWomen who desperately watch their future disappear. #SaveAfghanWomen from #Taliban https://t.co/Y8gaqw3h3Y
— Koorosh Lohrasbi (@KLohrasbi) August 14, 2021
Take a second today to think about all the #AfghanWomen and girls who will be taken slave, denied education, and lose their basic freedom in coming days 💔
— Dr. Hoda Mehr (@DrMehrpouyan) August 14, 2021
My heart is breaking for the women of Afghanistan, who have already been through so much. #AfghanWomen https://t.co/KYkFgCVjpx
— Arianna Camille (@AriAdvocates) August 15, 2021
At IFORHER, we are heart-broken as Afghan women gear up for a life full of hardships, uncertainty and lack of free will. Do let us know what you think!
