Our generation will continue resisting the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls

March 30, 2026

Fareshtah, born in the final year of the first Taliban regime in Afghanistan's Ghor Province, was pursuing her dream of becoming an attorney through university studies in Sharia and Islamic Sciences along with a legal skills program when the Taliban reclaimed power in August 2021. After public universities eventually reopened, she completed her coursework and was scheduled to defend her thesis in December 2022, but a sudden decree banned women from universities just days before her defense. When she attempted to enter the university anyway, a Taliban guard threatened her with a weapon and fired a shot in the air, forcing her to leave.

Who is affected

Fareshtah (the author), who was prevented from defending her thesis and pursuing her career as an attorney
Afghan girls and young women denied access to public universities and educational courses
Female students in online schools where Fareshtah teaches who have been deprived of formal education
University guards and bystanders who witnessed the confrontation at the university gate
Fareshtah's father and family members
Members of the women's reading group that meets twice weekly

What action is being taken

Fareshtah is teaching in online schools for girls deprived of education (for almost two years at the time of writing)
She is teaching Islamic culture courses at the university
She is participating in various online programs, trainings, and conferences
She is reading books and conducting research
She participates in a women's reading group that meets twice a week

Why it matters

This story illustrates the devastating impact of Taliban educational restrictions on an entire generation of Afghan women who had their academic and professional aspirations abruptly terminated. Fareshtah's experience demonstrates how arbitrary policy changes can destroy years of hard work and planning, as she was literally threatened at gunpoint while attempting to complete her degree requirements. Her continued resistance through underground education efforts represents both the resilience of Afghan women and their determination to preserve knowledge and opportunity despite systematic oppression. The broader significance lies in how these restrictions perpetuate cycles of ignorance that Fareshtah identifies as the root cause of injustice, and her efforts to combat this through teaching represent grassroots resistance that may shape future generations.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices