Afghan women tell the BBC their lives are unrecognisable after five years of Taliban rule

Afghan women have informed the BBC that their lives are unrecognizable after five years under Taliban rule.

Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, two decades after a US-led military coalition removed them from power, the hard-line Islamist group has been systematically eroding the rights of the country's 22 million women.

The BBC, one of the few media organizations to maintain access to Afghanistan since the takeover, spoke with women across the nation, from Kabul to rural areas. These women have witnessed the Taliban's actions, including banning girls over 12 from school, restricting travel without a male chaperone, and implementing a law that implicitly approves child marriage.

When questioned by BBC Afghan about the limitations women face, the Taliban's foreign minister stated, "Women are not totally restricted on all walks of life." However, these restrictions affect nearly every aspect of their lives, making it difficult for them to share their experiences. Many women have opted not to use their real names due to fear of retaliation.

Ela, from Kabul, expressed, "People are so overwhelmed by poverty and daily hardships that many have been forced to put their education, dreams, and hopes for the future aside. Today, survival has become the priority, and many of us no longer have the time or energy to think about the future."

This report contains distressing details.

Afghanistan is currently the only nation globally where girls are officially prohibited from secondary and higher education.

Shakiba described August 15, the day the government fell, as "the worst and most painful day of my life. Every year when this date comes I feel as if an old wound opens again and a new feeling of defeat fills my heart. That day I felt that many of the dreams I had carried inside me for years were suddenly taken away."

Despite managing to complete her secondary education online, which she called "a very important victory," Shakiba believes her lifelong ambition of becoming a pilot is now unattainable. "Whenever I looked at the sky I imagined myself flying an airplane and seeing the world from above. I wanted to fly freely and experience a world without limits," she shared.

The BBC questioned Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban's foreign minister, about girls' education in Afghanistan, specifically citing a Unicef report indicating that approximately 2.6 million girls in the country are now unable to attend school beyond Grade 6. Muttaqi responded that "it is not correct to say everything is banned for women," adding that "right now, three million girls are going to schools and madrassas [religious centers focused on Islamic teachings]." When asked how religious schools could produce doctors, Muttaqi reiterated, "Women are not totally restricted on all walks of life... Only one small part (of their affairs) is restricted until further notice."

According to the United Nations, only 7% of women in Afghanistan are employed, following bans from numerous workplaces and fields of study.

News anchor Zuhal lost her job after a series of Taliban directives. "I was very passionate about my work and did it with love. Every time I sat in front of the camera and read the news, I felt proud and happy... it was part of my identity and life. The days when I used to wake up to the sound of my alarm clock and get ready to watch TV have now become days when I wake up in the morning knowing that I have to spend the whole day at home."

The foreign minister claimed that Afghanistan had up to 30,000 women in business in 2020 and 2021, a number that has since increased to 120,000 female entrepreneurs. Muttaqi stated, "[Women] are teachers, and civil servants and entrepreneurs. There is not a total ban on women in all forms of engagement and activities."

The Taliban has reinstated public corporal punishments, with official records indicating hundreds of people have been flogged since 2021, though the actual number is likely much higher.

Shaima recounted to the BBC being whipped 50 times, resulting in severe scarring and trauma for her entire family. "They brought a paper and forced me to confess that: 'Yes, I am an apostate woman. I am collaborating with infidels and have spoken with unrelated men'. They hit me so hard that my head would bend toward the ground. Around 200 local people had gathered, including men, boys, and children. All of them were male. I was required to say out loud that I repented." Shaima added that her eldest daughter now frequently wakes up frightened, asking, "Mother, they are beating you," or "Mother, they are killing you." She said, "That is what causes me the greatest pain."

Manizha was publicly lashed 39 times and then imprisoned for her friendship with a man. "We wanted to get married, but unfortunately we were arrested. I do not know how the Taliban intelligence found out, or whether someone reported us. In prison, I experienced things that I have never even told my mother. I had no desire to continue living. I used to say that the first thing I would do after getting out of prison would be to take my own life. I had become a source of shame for my family and friends... I could no longer think about marriage."

Afghanistan has one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates. Rules restricting treatment by male doctors mean many women and girls cannot access healthcare. Midwife Marzia described witnessing a 45-year-old mother of six die after traveling to the clinic from a remote district. "We managed to save the baby, but now I keep thinking about the baby's future and the future of her six other children. What will happen to them without their mother? What will happen to the whole family? We were all heartbroken. For us, losing a patient is always the hardest part of our job. We become exhausted, both physically and emotionally."

Maryam, who is expecting a baby girl, expressed concern for her daughter's future. "If things continue like this, what will happen to her? She will not even have the chance to finish school like I did, let alone go to university. If one day she gets married, becomes pregnant and needs a female doctor during childbirth, what if there isn't one? This is a matter of life and death."

Despite the challenges, some Afghan women expressed hope for the future. Noori, 24, who chose to study law and political science to advocate for women's rights, was unable to complete her degree due to the Taliban takeover. However, she found another way to help women. "I did not lose hope. I decided to start working and become financially independent. I found a job at a jam-making company and started working there. I have now been working for three years. Now, I have decided to establish my own company so that I can provide employment opportunities for other women. I want them to become independent, strong, and successful women like me and have a better future. Currently, 10 brave women are working there." Noori stated she has worked diligently to create opportunities for other women.

Asma, 13, aspires to be a doctor and is confident she will achieve her goal. "One day, everything will change... but we must continue with patience, and we will not lose hope," she told the BBC.

Ela, a dental assistant, urged the international community not to forget Afghan women and girls. "Speak up for Afghan women, support their right to education and work," she said. "Keep the world's attention on their situation. We need solidarity, not silence."