On the first day of school, eager to learn, girls are encountered with the school gates closed, and the Taliban armed.  As the news has turned away from Afghanistan the Taliban are still in control over the country. 

Afghan girls past sixth grade are not allowed to go to school. They are not allowed to go outside their homes unless they are with a male chaperone. Women are not permitted to work and must cover their faces in public. Life for women in Afghanistan has shifted dramatically since the Taliban took over in August of 2021. Women and girls in Afghanistan are protesting for their rights, even if that means being punished or killed.

After one year of not going to school, most girls are uncertain of their future. They believed that if they were well-educated, no man would dare to  control them. In the eyes of the Taliban, school is meant for boys. Girls should stay home, and learn the basics of female living (cook, clean, and motherhood).

Not allowing girls to go to school has caused sadness and anger amongst Afghan Women. Husna Ahmadzoi, a 17 year old girl who lives in Kabul, said, “There will be no progress in society without women, it is the right of every girl to enjoy her rights in her own country.”

Women and girls in Afghanistan are slowly starting to be erased. Not only do they not have basic rights, but more than half the female population in Afghanistan are facing domestic violence according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

The women of Afghanistan have endured conflict for over 40 years. They have no power, freedom, or a right to an education. The women of Afghanistan continue to fight for their rights. A country with no government, no power, and no rights has an uncertain future ahead of it.