BAHARAN LAHIB

Kabul- The conflict between Israel and Iran has killed civilians and caused destruction. There are no winners in war and conflict and civilians pay the highest price in war and conflict. Since 1979, Afghanistan has suffered from extensive warfare, coups, invasions, insurgencies, and civil wars.

If you talk to any woman, man, old person, young person or even a child in Afghanistan, you will understand very well the painful fate of Afghans imposed on them by imperialism.

‘People demand peace’

NuJINHA spoke to Zalfa Mohammadi, an Afghan photographer and child human rights defender, about the conflict that broke out between Israel and Iran on June 13, 2025. She has been making great efforts to advocate for the education of Afghan children for nearly three years while documenting everything by using her camera.

“When I saw social media posts saying that the war between Israel and Iran had started, I really felt fear and worried not only for Iran, but for all the regions that suffer from wars and conflicts. In war and conflict zones, people always demand peace and tranquility; however, wars and conflicts destroy everything without allowing people to have a peaceful life. When one authoritarian regime attacks another, people begin to ask, ‘How can we live in peace?’. The Israel-Iran conflict also affects us. Afghanistan is the heart of Asia and a neighbor of Iran. The conflict affects Afghan refugees living in Iran and women and girls living in Iran to study there.”

‘Wars affect the lives of innocent people’

Innocent people, especially women and children, pay the highest price in war and conflict, Zalfa Mohammadi emphasized. “Wars affect the lives of innocent people even though they do not start wars. The Israel-Iran conflict has killed many civilians and civilian residential buildings, leaving many civilians homeless. People left their homes to find a safe space for them.”

Zalfa Mohammadi expressed empathy with Iranian women and said, “As Afghan women, we have suffered from civil wars; we have been subjected to rape and violence, deprived of our right to education. We understand very well how Iranian women feel right now. Despite all the challenges, we still feel hopeful and call on Iranian women to be hopeful. War never brings happiness but misery, death and destruction. We understand you because we have experienced the same thing. I know that you are stressed and worried. But you must feel hopeful and remain steadfast. Having hope in the darkest moments requires courage and you have that courage.”

The message of Zalfa Mohammadi for her Iranian sisters: “As an Afghan woman, I have faced many challenges and made great efforts to realize my dreams. I call you not to give up despite everything. It is true that we face many challenges in the Middle East and Asia but all these wars will end one day. We must unite and be in solidarity with each other to overcome all the challenges.”