A mass deportation of Afghans from Iran signals a grim future for women and girls, who now return to a society with severe restrictions on their rights and freedoms.
Afghan Women Face Harsh Reality Upon Return from Iran Deportation
Afghan Women Face Harsh Reality Upon Return from Iran Deportation
After being expelled from Iran, Afghan women and girls brace themselves for a return to the oppressive conditions of Taliban rule.
As Afghan women and girls return to their homeland after being forcibly removed from Iran, the daunting reality of life under Taliban rule looms large. Three sisters, Marwa (18), Khurshid (17), and another sibling, expressed their fears and resignation regarding their reintegration into a society that severely restricts their rights. Khurshid poignantly remarked, "Afghanistan is like a cage for women, and we’re coming back to that cage," reflecting the despair many feel as they lose the freedoms they had in Iran.
The broader context reveals a worrying trend, as Iran has deported over 1.4 million Afghans this year, dismantling not only dreams but also vital educational and employment opportunities for women who fled Taliban oppression. Countries like Pakistan are following suit, implementing policies that endanger the prospects of women fleeing from Afghanistan.
Under Taliban governance, women face a litany of harsh restrictions: girls are prohibited from continuing education beyond sixth grade, women are barred from most jobs and public areas, and their movement is severely limited without a male guardian. The deportees are not only returning home; they are stepping back into a reality filled with fear and confinement, which they had desperately sought to escape. As one of the sisters defied the Taliban’s dress codes at the border, the grim realization that they will now have to adhere to such regulations added to their distress.
The struggle for Afghan women continues as they navigate life in an increasingly oppressive society.
