Afghan women embroider handkerchiefs at a workshop.

 Photo by Sanaullah Seiam / Getty Images

‘I Had to Seek Asylum in the U.S.’

But that hasn’t stopped my work empowering Afghan women.
By Humaira Rasuli

WHEN THE TALIBAN first [seized power in Afghanistan] my parents relocated to Pakistan, because we could not pursue our education; we were four girls. I was 12 years old. I saw the suffering of women from my childhood. They were always under the authority of men. They didn’t have access to health services. I studied law and trauma counseling and feminist leadership [and handled] a lot of cases of sexual violence.

[In 2021 the Taliban returned to power and are] restricting women’s rights. Women can’t continue education beyond grade six or work in leadership positions. All the [female] judges and prosecutors were removed and replaced with people who studied Sharia law, but they have no idea about court systems or fair trials. I had to seek asylum in the U.S.

 

Read the Full Article

To continue reading this article — and get full access to all our magazine content — subscribe now for as little as $4.95. Your subscription helps sustain our nonprofit journalism and allows us to pay authors for their terrific work! Thank you for your support.
Subscribe Now!

Humaira Rasuli is an Afghan human rights lawyer and activist.