March is Women’s History Month — and many Afghan women now feel like they are living it.
The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 ousted the previous Taliban rule, which had kept women from working, going to school, expressing and moving freely. Over the last two decades, women were able to study and work in a variety of fields, enjoy social freedom, and engage in government, civil society, media, business and athletics.
I contacted the club’s driver, who is a kind and caring man. I call him “Kaka.” “Kaka, can you sneak me into the game?” I asked. He declined, too. I had a feeling he wanted to help, but it was just too risky for him. I told him not to worry since I could cover up my face. “All I want to do is watch,” I said.
My goal was to represent Afghanistan in an international tournament one day. I would have qualified for the national team if I had competed in this year’s tournaments, and I would have been one step closer to achieving my goal. Taliban took everything away from me. My creativity, my excitement, my routine, my future. Art is no longer alive inside me, nor is it alive in society.Afghan policewomen march during a graduation ceremony at a police training center in Herat on March 15, 2012.When the Taliban took over Kabul, I was expecting my first baby. Only a few days later, my baby was born. We heard of the deaths of several female police officers after barely two months of Taliban control.
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