"They ask me for help, but it really saddens me that my hands are tied and I cannot help"

Mahrokh (not her real name) is a former prosecutor from Ghor, Afghanistan. She is not allowed to share her story, so we are doing it for her, to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. 

"After the fall of the Republic, the lives of people in Afghanistan changed 360 degrees, especially the lives of vulnerable groups, such as women, children and people with disabilities. These groups have become even more vulnerable in emergency situations. 

After the fall of the former government, we all witnessed how people were displaced, either internally or globally. Many people feel like refugees even inside the country, especially women, who face numerous restrictions. Many women have lost their jobs. Girls are deprived of their right to an education. There are many restrictions on their dress, movement, etc. Women who were civil or political activists can no longer continue their activities. The majority of people live in an emergency situation. 

On several occasions, I have noticed Taliban soldiers stopping women around the city to preach to them about their style of dress, despite all women in Afghanistan wearing the hijab. The Taliban control women’s dress, and on some occasions, women have been beaten for their dress or movement.

In larger cities like Kabul, Herat and Mazar, women have a broader range for movement. They can sometimes organize protests, and maybe find a platform to help them be heard. They might at least suffer fewer limitations than we do in remote provinces. The situation of women in remote provinces is way worse. 

Afghanistan went through fundamental changes, in the political system, social order, cultural system, educational system, and also in the individual and social lives of its people. I was a prosecutor, but I lost my job. My sister’s husband, a civilian, was mercilessly killed, and now my sister and her two children are left in misery.

I could go on telling you examples of how women faced numerous other problems. In addition to being deprived of an education, there are many other limitations on the women of Afghanistan. For me, we are living in an emergency situation.

This situation really bothers me, but there is nothing I can do about it. As a prosecutor, I could help women whose rights were violated, and that made me happy that I could address their problems to some extent - but now, things are different.

I know many women who are going through a very bad situation. They suffer physical and mental violence, but there is no place they can go to for help. My sister, for example, suffers a lot, but I can do nothing for her but grieve for her pain.

Women who know me for my work come to me and tell me their problems. For example, the husband of one woman beats her; another does not want to marry her fiancé; others have various family issues; the list goes on…

They ask me for help, but it really saddens me that my hands are tied and I cannot help them. 

I have no positive views on the Taliban, because the essence of the Taliban is tied to violence. So far, everything they have achieved has been through hostility and violence. The displacement and suffering that the Taliban imposed on the people of Afghanistan will never be forgotten. It is very unlikely that the Taliban will change, or that their actions, words or views will become more humane. It may not happen for many years, even centuries.

There is no hope for the Taliban to change in the near future. Their de facto structure – if you can call it a structure; it has not been recognized – is not acceptable for us. Their only function is to enforce various forms of restrictions on women. They have taken away all the jobs and occupations from women. Girls are deprived of their right to education. They have even limited girl’s choice of university subjects. This is all very upsetting. The only function of the Taliban is to enforce new restrictions on women. They accept no other responsibility towards the people and the society."

Mahrokh's story and those of more than 50 other women currently living in Afghanistan can be found on the After August website. Their names and locations have been changed for their protection. This collection of true stories documenting the lives of Afghan women is a collaboration between UN Women Afghanistan, Zan Times, Limbo and independent storytellers. It aims to raise awareness and incite an international audience to reflect and, hopefully, to act.