Tahmina celebrates its 4th Anniversary with a blog series called, “In Their Own Words,” featuring stories from the everyday people who are still living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Names have been changed or redacted for security, and the views expressed in these pieces are the author's own and do not reflect the views of Tahmina Tea.
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Hello from Afghanistan,
It is my pleasure to share some moments, feelings, and stories of my life with you…
I am 17 years old, I am Hazara from Kabul Afghanistan. My mom and dad are my heroes, they have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and have sacrificed so much for our family. They understood what life was like during the Taliban regime 20 years ago. I heard so many stories about how Afghan women were taken advantage of and how there were no opportunities for education. But after 9/11 life was so different in Afghanistan. Women could go to schools and colleges, become doctors, lawyers and journalists. We had bright futures, the possibilities seemed endless. I loved going to school and being with my friends. I was learning so much and couldn’t wait to pursue my dream of becoming a NASA astronaut. My parents encouraged me to dream big and work hard.
But now, history is repeating itself.
On August 15th, 2021 my mother came and picked me and my siblings up directly from our school when we finished our exams. And my father was at the passport office waiting in line to receive passports for our family. Confusion and panic filled the room as word was spreading the Taliban were about to enter Kabul. Men, women, and children were fearful for their lives. The situation seemed so uncertain.
Then, a passport employee announced “The Taliban has taken over Kabul and it is over.”
At that moment, my heart ached deeply and I had the worst feeling of helplessness. Tears flowed from my eyes and I felt numb.
My parents started to receive calls and texts from our friends and family in Afghanistan.
“What will we do?”
When we arrived home from the passport office, all of us were filled with worries about our future. I began to wonder if I would ever be able to go to university and if my family would be safe. I felt like I was living in a nightmare that never ended.
But I know that God has a better plan for us. I want this traumatic nightmare to pass soon. For girls to go to school again and our country to be at peace. I want the future generation of my people to participate in the development of our country. No one should be eliminated from their society based upon their ethnicity, religion or sex. I hope one day we will no longer experience this suffering of war. I want peace. My people want peace. Please pray for my people and my country. Afghanistan is not lost yet.
-Farzana
