Name: Sima
Province: Kabul
We were sitting in a translation office near Charahi Sedarat when someone knocked on the door. It was during one of the protests, right after the Taliban had attacked women protesters. A few of us had managed to hide inside the shop and lock the door behind us. But the Taliban discovered our location and began searching our phones for photos, videos, and addresses.
We had lost hope. Just as they were about to enter the shop, we escaped through a back door that led to a parking lot. The girls with me were crying. One said, “We are not afraid of death, but if they imprison us, our names will be disgraced, and our families will kill us.” Even though I was terrified myself, I tried to comfort them until we reached the street.
But the tragedy didn’t end there. No taxi would stop for us. Some people hurled insults, calling us prostitutes. Others cursed our families. That day, we truly realized how alone we were, and how uncertain the future was for Afghan women. We had no support. And even though our protests weren’t in vain, they didn’t change the fate of Afghan women—because we were fighting alone, and no one stood with us.
The weight of these thoughts overwhelmed me, but I had to stay focused on keeping myself and the girls safe. We walked through side streets, all the way from Charahi Sedarat to Karte Naw, because we couldn’t trust any taxi driver.
That day in August 2022, several women were arrested. One protester was injured. Others were whipped. It was a terrible day but no one gave up. Even after that, we kept protesting. We are still protesting.
The world must understand this: the Taliban’s greatest fear is the women of Afghanistan. They are terrified of our resistance. That is why they have declared war on us. But make no mistake. Their actions are nothing but gender-based oppression. And for that reason, the world must never recognize them.
