Don't Leave Us Alone. We Deserve a Democratic state - Afghan Journalist Maryam Nabavi

Afghan Journalist Maryam Nabavi shares a deep account of things on the ground. In her own words she talks about the plight of women, the shock and trauma and why it seems women's rights are not a priority for the Taliban. 

Day by day the fear and trauma is rising among the people of Afghanistan. No one knows what will happen next, what the future holds and what we must do. For girls and women, whatever progress was made, it has been now reversed since the Taliban took over the country.

Although, after two days, Afghan girls have begun to raise their voices in some areas in the city, most are up against a large number of Taliban fighters. Many women, like me, are fearing for their lives and have become bereft of courage. We remain in shock.

It is very difficult for us to imagine how a group of gunmen - who didn’t know about civil society and human rights - are going to rule the country. Women and their rights are clearly not a priority.

The spokesperson of the Taliban announced at his conference at the government media centre that they will respect and consider women rights and will allow them to work in certain circumstances and preconditions.

What are these preconditions?

1. wearing a burqa
2. heed or observe the Islamic Hijab
3. avoid chappal and luxury boots

Taliban refused to let a female news anchor do her job – one day after claiming women will be free to work. She was banned from coming to the office and was told her to go back and stay at home.

Taliban didn't allow my ex-colleague here in @TOLOnews and famous anchor of the State-owned @rtapashto Shabnam Dawran to start her work today.
" Despite wearing a hijab & carrying correct ID, I was told by Taliban: The regime has changed. Go home"#Afghanistan #Talban pic.twitter.com/rXK7LWvddX

— Miraqa Popal (@MiraqaPopal) August 18, 2021

Don't Leave Us Alone. We Deserve a Democratic state - Afghan Journalist Maryam Nabavi

Today, after 72 hours of being hidden, I came out to find my colleagues, some of them are near to Kabul international airport and I saw hundreds of people including families who are trying to leave Kabul for a safe place. Majority of crowds don’t know where they want to go but the helplessly trying to reach airport and leave their homeland. That was sad and disappointing, everyone had lost hope.

Afghan Women Protest/ Picture credit: Video Grab

The saddest news I heard today was that American and UN agencies have been told they can only take foreigners and those Afghan who have other countries citizenship. That was heart breaking. Taliban didn’t allow Afghan people to cross the gate, they are using gun power, whipping people, and shoot on point to scatter the people from the gates and avoid entering to the airport in large numbers.

Afghan people are innocent people and they don’t deserve this to be happen in my country. Once again, I call upon the UN, Americans, and all humanitarian organisations to not leave us alone. Afghan people need you in this difficult situation. We deserve a democratic state and prosperous life. Afghanistan young generation needs your hand to rebuild this forgotten soil.

Journalist sent this self authored piece about the on ground situation in Kabul. Views expressed are author's own. Picture by Maryam Nabavi

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