Five years have passed since the Taliban assumed power in Afghanistan following the collapse of the government in August 2021. During this time, Canada has welcomed over 60,000 Afghan refugees, including Farkhunda Hashimy. Hashimy, who used to be a high school student in Kabul before the Taliban takeover, has found solace and freedom in Saskatoon since arriving with her family in 2023.
Hashimy reminisces about the quality of life in Afghanistan before the regime change, where she had the liberty to attend high school and aspire for further education and a career. However, the Taliban’s rule abruptly halted her plans for university and sports aspirations, particularly in soccer.
According to the United Nations, the Taliban has issued over 100 decrees affecting the daily lives of women and girls in Afghanistan. Before the regime’s rise, the country boasted more than 100,000 women in higher education, a stark contrast to the current ban on girls continuing their education past Grade 6.
Natasha Arnpriester, a senior legal counsel at the Open Society Justice Initiative, is leading efforts to hold the Taliban accountable at the International Court of Justice for their oppressive policies. Arnpriester highlights the drastic regression in women’s rights, emphasizing the Taliban’s distorted interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture.
The restrictions imposed by the Taliban have severely restricted women’s access to education, employment opportunities, and healthcare. Arnpriester describes the situation as the world’s most severe women’s rights crisis, urging global awareness of the dire circumstances faced by Afghan women.
Hashimy’s family fled Kabul due to safety concerns, eventually finding refuge in Canada with the help of the 30 Birds Foundation, aiding over 400 Afghan women and girls in resettling in Saskatoon. Despite embracing her new life in Canada and pursuing urban planning studies at the University of Saskatchewan, Hashimy remains deeply connected to the plight of women and girls enduring Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
Her unwavering commitment to supporting her compatriots drives her to excel academically with the hope of contributing to the development and empowerment of Afghan women in the future. Hashimy’s journey symbolizes resilience and determination amidst adversity, embodying a beacon of hope for those still struggling back in her homeland.