In August 2021, the world watched as the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, sweeping away two decades of progress toward democracy, human rights and gender equality. While international headlines have since moved on to other crises, millions of Afghan women and girls continue to live under increasingly restrictive policies that have systematically stripped away their most fundamental rights.

This series of anonymous interviews gives voice to those who have been deliberately silenced. Through intimate conversations with women and girls across Afghanistan, we document the profound human impact of the Taliban’s return to power. From students forced to abandon their education to professionals removed from public life, these firsthand accounts reveal the day-to-day reality behind the headlines—a reality of dreams deferred, freedoms revoked, and lives fundamentally altered.

What emerges is not just a chronicle of loss, but a testament to extraordinary resilience. Despite facing restrictions on their movement, dress, education, and employment, Afghan women continue to resist in ways both large and small. Their stories demand our attention not as abstract victims of geopolitical circumstances, but as individuals with unique perspectives, aspirations, and undiminished dignity.

In publishing these interviews, we honor the courage of those who have shared their experiences despite considerable personal risk. Their names have been changed and identifying details obscured, but their voices — clear, honest, and urgent — remain intact.

As the international community’s focus wavers and diplomatic engagement with the Taliban regime increases, these testimonies stand as a powerful reminder: Afghanistan’s women and girls must not be forgotten, and their rights cannot be bargained away in the name of stability or expedience.

This is the eighth in a series of interviews that will explore the many facets of the lives of Afghanistan’s women and girls under a resurgent Taliban. The first in the series can be found here: Voices of Afghanistan Interview Series: ‘We’ve been all but erased from public life’. The second can be found here: Voices of Afghanistan Interview Series: ‘We will continue to resist, to hope, and to fight for a better tomorrow’. The third can be found here: Voices of Afghanistan Interview Series: ‘We, Afghan girls and women, will call for freedom with every breath’. The fourth can be found here: Voices of Afghanistan Interview Series: ‘Afghan women are not just victims; we are strong, resilient, and capable’. The fifth can be found here: Voices of Afghanistan Interview Series: ‘If we don’t defend our rights, this could continue for generations to come. We won’t let it’. The sixth can be found here: Voices of Afghanistan Interview Series: ‘We, the female doctors—once symbols of women’s progress, ability, and independence—are now facing barriers, threats, and silence’. The seventh can be found here: Voices of Afghanistan Interview Series: ‘I don’t want the world to recognize the Taliban. If this happens, women’s rights will be forever violated’.

Tell us about your life before August 2021. Were you working or studying?

Before August 2021, I was a university student and was involved in many social activities. I spent a lot of time volunteering. Education was always my top priority, and at the same time, I tried to play a role in improving my community through social work. I worked on several social and non-governmental projects that focused on women’s empowerment, professional training, and life skills development. I also had leadership and teaching roles in programs that supported women and children, including literacy classes, health awareness sessions, and mental health support for those in need.

Despite challenges relating to poverty, job insecurity, and some cultural barriers, we were full of hope. We had dreams. We believed that change was possible. Opportunities for women were slowly growing, and I had many plans to continue my education and serve my people. But sadly, with the return of the Taliban, everything collapsed. What we had built was destroyed in the blink of an eye.

How did you learn about the events of August 2021 and what was your first reaction?

I heard the news through social media and TV channels. That same day, when I saw videos of people desperately trying to flee the country, and soldiers leaving their posts, I felt fear and disbelief in my heart. I couldn’t believe the system was crumbling and there was nothing I could do about it. I felt powerless and confused. It was hard to understand what was happening. It felt like everything was turning to smoke before my eyes. Even with its problems, the system still gave us hope but was collapsing. Tears fell from my eyes. I couldn’t sleep at night. The atmosphere in our home was full of silence and worry. We were all in shock and didn’t know what to do.

Which Taliban policy or rule about women has affected your life, your family, or your community the most?

The worst and most painful policy has been the ban on education for girls above grade six. Slowly, other rules came too—girls were not allowed to attend courses or learn what they dreamed of. Education is not just about going to school; it is a tool for power and for building a future.

This cruel decision forced thousands of girls to stay at home and killed many dreams. All the plans I had in my mind to improve the lives of Afghan women were destroyed by this order.

My friends, my sisters, and my classmates—we all lost hope. Every day, I see the dreams of brave girls fading away. Girls who used to fight for their future despite all the difficulties. This policy has taken away not just one generation’s rights, but many generations’ basic human and Islamic rights.

Can you share a specific story that shows how women’s lives in Afghanistan have changed?

Yes. One of my closest friends was in the final year of medical school. She worked so hard for years. She fought against financial and social problems to reach her goal. She was not only a good student, but also wanted to help women and children in remote areas. When universities closed for girls, all her efforts went to waste. Now she sits at home, not helping patients, not studying; just struggling with her sadness. Her life, like thousands of other girls, changed in one moment.,I also know girls who were in their final year of high school and were excited to take the university entrance exam called Kankor. Sadly, all their dreams were destroyed too.

Another story that deeply reflects the harsh reality we live in is when I dreamed of opening a fast-food restaurant exclusively for women. My goal was not just to start a business—it was to create a safe space where underprivileged women could work, earn an income, and regain a sense of independence and dignity. Every detail was planned with care: a female-friendly environment, staffed entirely by women who needed a chance to rebuild their lives.

But when I went to apply for a business license, I wasn’t even allowed to enter the office. I was turned away simply because I am a woman. Later, I sent my brother to follow up on my behalf. The officials told him bluntly, “We do not permit women to run restaurants. If it is a men’s restaurant with male staff, we have no problem.” I had no choice. If I wanted to see my idea come to life, I had to compromise. I registered the restaurant under my brother’s name and hired male staff who were all complete strangers instead of the women I had originally planned to empower.

But it didn’t work. The atmosphere I envisioned was lost. The male employees didn’t take their responsibilities seriously, and the environment was far from what I had hoped to cultivate. Eventually, the restaurant had to shut down. Not because I lacked vision or determination, but because I was denied the right to act on it. This experience broke something in me. I didn’t just lose a business. I lost an opportunity to help women like me reclaim their space in society.

Is there a moment when you felt the impact of the Taliban’s new rules more than any other time?

Yes, one very painful moment was when the Taliban announced that no woman could leave the house without fully covering her face. I went shopping with my sister, and I could feel the heavy stares of Taliban members on me. Every step felt scary.

Another time, I wanted to meet a Taliban official to discuss opening a women’s market. Unfortunately, he refused to meet me. He said no woman has the right to enter government offices. That moment felt like the whole world went dark for me.

What do you want the world to know about your current situation? Or what part of your current reality do you think is most misunderstood?

I want the world to know that Afghan women are victims of systematic violence. This is not a situation we chose. Many people think we have given up, but the truth is, we are resisting every single day, despite the risks.

Many forms of resistance have gone silent, but they have not disappeared. We continue to fight in silence through secret education, writing, and online activism. We are screaming without sound. We have kept hope alive in the heart of darkness, waiting for the day when we can once again raise our voices and be present in society.

What gives you hope and strength in these difficult days?

What keeps me going in these dark days is my belief in change. I truly believe that this period of oppression will not last forever. History has shown us that no tyrannical regime has lasted forever, and the Taliban will be no exception.

My family is my greatest source of strength. They have always stood by me and supported me during the hardest times. Also, seeing the courage of women who, despite all the restrictions, still teach, still write, and keep hope alive—this gives me motivation. Our pain is deep, but our determination and hope are even deeper.