Beharan Lahiib

Takhar – In a moment that changed the face of life in Afghanistan, the Taliban swept through the country’s cities, one after another, bringing with them decisions that turned back the clock. The most notable was the closure of schools for girls, extinguishing the flames of hope in the eyes of a generation that had dreamed of a different future.

On a day that altered her life forever, Feroza Sharifi, an 18-year-old girl from Takhar, recalls the moment the Taliban stormed her city, closing a chapter of hope and opening one of fear and loss for an entire generation. She tells her story, saying, "I was a 10th-grade student, the third daughter in my family. I helped my mother with household chores during the day, and I dedicated my nights to studying until late hours. I thought the future was in our hands, and that anything was possible."

Before the Taliban’s arrival in Takhar, Feroza Sharifi’s life was full of hope, and she was firmly on her path toward her dream of becoming a doctor. She was a top student living a simple life, filled with optimism, believing that the future belonged to her generation. But everything changed in an instant. Feroza continues, "I was in the market with my mother when the Taliban entered the city with their cars and equipment. I was scared and told my mother, ‘Let’s go back home quickly.’ My mother looked at me with a sad smile and a confused expression and said, ‘Look, these are the Taliban you’ve been afraid of, and now you see them with your own eyes.’”

She pointed out that this day was not just an ordinary event, but the beginning of the collapse of dreams, as hope faded from the eyes of a generation that believed tomorrow would be better. Schools were closed to all girls, and in some villages, the Taliban ordered flags to be placed on the doors of widows’ or unmarried women’s houses as a sign of their control over women’s lives. Many families were forced to flee their homes and migrate to Kabul. Takhar province had not yet completely fallen when the Taliban stormed the capital, Kabul, intensifying the war and spreading chaos throughout the country.

Reflecting on the war and violence that Afghanistan had endured during that time, Feroza explained, “Over the past twenty years, many cities witnessed war and suicide attacks. Many young people—both boys and girls—were killed, and mothers are still shedding tears over the loss of their young children. When the Taliban came, it felt as though all our dreams had suddenly vanished.”

Feroza Sharifi belongs to a generation that had the chance for education and social participation in Afghan cities, before the Taliban suddenly took control and restricted the role of women in society. She says, “Perhaps my pain is an extension of the suffering of those who came before me, but I hold a firm belief in the struggle of the women of my country. I believe that the doors of schools and dreams will open for us again, and that no force in the world can close the windows of our ambitions.”

Feroza and her peers were deprived of their basic rights, such as education and social freedom, with the return of the Taliban. This experience will continue to cast a shadow on future generations, as living under fear, restrictions, and violence has denied women the opportunity for education and growth. This led to the emergence of a society of girls whose dreams were abruptly halted. Feroza concludes, “We still want to sing for ourselves, for our families, and for our country. We will not let fear and violence dominate our lives. The day will come when our voices will be heard, and no girl will ever have to sacrifice her dreams again.”