Witness 16 Written Testimony

My name is Donya, and for safety reasons, I am speaking under a pseudonym.

I wanted to continue my education at university. I completed school up to grade 12, and after that, I was accepted into the Faculty of Law and Political Science in Kabul. Unfortunately, because of the difficult situation in Afghanistan — especially for me as a woman with a disability — I was unable to attend.

Afghanistan is a country filled with challenges, and for girls like me, those challenges are multiplied.

At one point, I took a year off. Later, I attended university for a few months, but eventually, I had to quit again. A few of my friends told me, “You graduated from school with such distinction; you must not give up your studies.” Their encouragement gave me hope, and I decided to resume my education.

This time, I enrolled in a private university, which kindly admitted me free of charge, because my family’s financial situation was very weak.

I am the eldest daughter in my family. My father had passed away, and my mother earned a small income. My younger brothers were still children. Despite all these hardships, I managed to attend a private university and successfully complete my studies.

During my education, I never sought favoritism from my professors or asked for free grades because of my disability. I always tried to compete equally with other students, to prove myself through hard work, not through pity or special treatment.

After graduating, I was supposed to get a job. For a while, I worked in an organization, but with the collapse of the Republic and the Taliban’s takeover, my job was taken from me.

Since then, I have become homebound, and my difficulties have multiplied.

Currently, I am suffering from health problems and illness, but I cannot afford medical treatment. Our economic situation has become so severe that I can no longer even visit a doctor.

During the Republic, my mother used to work at a university. Her salary, though modest, helped us survive. Now, she still works, but her income is no longer enough to meet our family’s needs.

These are among the many problems that the Taliban’s rule has imposed on us.

Do you know why the private university accepted me without charging tuition? It was because, under the law of the previous government, universities were obliged by law to support and provide educational access to persons with disabilities.

My employment rights were also protected under the same law — the Law on the Rights and Privileges of Persons with Disabilities. But today, no law exists to protect me or others like me.

Before 2021, I had a job, I was active, I could go outside, and I had motivation and hope. But after 2021, everything changed. We could no longer work, go out, or live normal lives. My mental and physical health began to deteriorate rapidly.

As time passed, my depression worsened because I remained at home constantly, without purpose or activity. My condition became so severe that I began to feel like a burden to my family — as if I had lost all meaning and independence in life.

I have developed clinical depression, and I suffer both physically and mentally. Sometimes I endure extreme pain but cannot afford medical treatment. Even when my pain becomes unbearable, I cannot go to the doctor because I have no money.

Today, I am unemployed, isolated, and my spirit is broken.

My heartfelt message is this:

God willing, I hope this government will soon come to an end. But even if it does not, I wish the Taliban — who call themselves the “Islamic Emirate” — would understand that God never commanded them to imprison women inside their homes.

They must realize that what they are doing is against humanity and religion. They should stop these actions and instead create a new system of laws — laws that allow women to work, study, and live freely.

Many women, like me, have no men in their families and are forced to work and support themselves. The Taliban must allow women to work and live.

Because of their restrictions, many young women have committed suicide or lost their lives. Many have become deeply depressed and emotionally broken. Today, most girls in Afghanistan — like me — live as prisoners inside their own homes, deprived of education, employment, and dignity.

My heartfelt plea is this:
The Taliban must lift these restrictions from the shoulders of women.

There must always be people and organizations who stand with Afghan women, especially girls and women with disabilities. They must not remain silent in the face of oppression. They should stand beside us, support us in every possible way, and help us escape this dark situation — so that we can finally achieve our human rights.