BAHARAN LAHIB

Afghanistan – With the increasing arrests of women for “improper hijab” by the Taliban, a wave of fear, anxiety, and psychological repercussions has emerged among women and their families; reports of suicides and sexual violence following arrest have further heightened these fears.

Our agency interviewed several women from different Afghan provinces to learn about the problems they faced after each wave of arrests targeting women for "improper veiling." Each woman told a different story, but all reflected the abuses perpetrated by the Taliban against women.

Several young women said, "We feel anxious and afraid whenever we leave the house because we fear being arrested for no apparent reason." This situation has led many of them to curtail their educational and social activities, and even reduce their social interactions.

 

Women's rights activists believe that fear can have a profound impact on the mental health of women and girls. In their view, restricting women's presence in society deprives them of their roles in various aspects of life.

Fear is one of the primary consequences of women's arrests.

Laila Forough lives in a district of Kabul and reluctantly agreed to receive us in her home. When we entered, her face betrayed her anxiety, but she nevertheless welcomed us warmly. We then entered a room adorned with her artwork, which added beauty and tranquility to her small house.

She explained that after the news from Herat, her family became extremely worried. "This isn't the first time. Since the Taliban took power, especially with the news of women and teenage girls being arrested for not wearing the hijab properly, my family's fears have increased. Every time I leave the house, my mother repeats her instructions for me to return quickly."

The situation has changed, and the home has become a voluntary prison for Afghan women. In this context, Laila Farough said, "Before, I would go out to visit my friends or buy books, but now I feel my freedom is restricted. Until I return home, my mother calls me every few minutes to ask where I am and when I will be back. For this reason, and so as not to worry her or the rest of the She added, "The fear isn't limited to Herat; when something like this happens, all girls in Afghanistan feel unsafe, and many of my friends now prefer to stay home and only go out when absolutely necessary."

"Homes turned into prisons"

For her part, Fatima Hosseini, a 25-year-old who attends an English language institute in Bamiyan, explained that families with daughters who go out to work or study live in a state of anxiety until they return home. "Many women prefer to reduce their outings to alleviate the stress for themselves and their families, and after the arrest family, I rarely leave the house."

In Herat, women are being targeted by the morality police. Rumors are circulating in Bamiyan about daily arrests of girls, but people are afraid to speak about it. This is why our institute and all the educational institutions where girls study were closed for a week. My father constantly tells me not to go out alone because he fears the situation will worsen in other provinces.

Taliban abuses have increased restrictions on families in Herat.

Shukufa Shuja from Balkh province says, "After news spread about the arrests of women in Herat, many families in our neighborhood imposed additional restrictions on their daughters. Some no longer allow them to go out without a family member. My family is one of those families. My parents are always expressing their concern and emphasizing that the Taliban have no respect for families or their dignity."

A Shared Fear… From Kabul to Herat and Jalal Abad

Wahida Barkat lives in a remote area of ​​Herat province. Her father was a member of the security forces of the previous government. The Taliban arrested him at night from his home on charges of theft, and since then, the family has had no news of him. Her mother died from grief and anxiety after the incident. Wahida now lives with her two younger brothers and has endured a life filled with pain and suffering.

 

During our conversation about the situation after the women's arrests, she said calmly after a long pause, "No one knows the Taliban better than I do. I carry the pain of losing my father and mother in my heart, and I know very well how they treat people."

"Terror permeated the city, and after the women's arrests, the atmosphere changed completely. Many women and girls began to avoid going out in public for fear of harassment." Shahin Mohammadi, who works at a private hospital in Jalalabad, emphasized her determination to continue working despite all the obstacles and difficulties, saying, "Mothers are now afraid for their daughters' fate, and many girls feel they could face even harsher restrictions or a worse fate at any moment. Therefore, they leave their homes in fear. I considered quitting my job many times, but after much thought, I told myself that the Taliban wanted to create such a terrifying situation that women would be forced to stay indoors at all costs. So, I decided to continue working."