KABUL: Under the Taliban regime, Afghan women and girls face severe restrictions, deprivation of education, and security threats, with many expressing a singular hope to leave the country. Radio France Internationale (RFI) reports that Shilla Noori, founder of an Afghan women’s organization, was able to travel across Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. During her trip, she visited 15 provinces and spoke with women, girls, and men about their humanitarian and psychological conditions. Noori noted that girls have been barred from education since the age of 13, and many women and girls are in a state of severe psychological distress. Access to work, recreational centers, and healthcare services for women has become extremely limited. She emphasized that children are also under pressure, with many forced to work on the streets to support their families. Noori further highlighted that efforts to leave the country face significant challenges, as obtaining passports and visas is difficult and cumbersome. Meanwhile, many Afghans remain hopeful that the international community will increase pressure on the Taliban to lift existing restrictions, allowing women to pursue education and work.
