With the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, they have banned women and girls from participating in sports. This action has forced some female athletes to leave the country, while others have endured the bitter taste of unemployment and have suffered from various illnesses, including mental health disorders, as a result of their unemployment. Some have continued their work clandestinely out of necessity and dire economic conditions.
Maryam, a 32-year-old female athlete, told the Afghan Women’s News Agency, “In the previous government, my life was going well. I had been active in the sports sector for six years and had established four sports clubs. Women and girls would come with love and passion for sports. I trained about a hundred women in four clubs. We faced no restrictions. However, with the fall of the republic government and the Taliban’s resurgence in the country, all activities for women were shut down. Taliban forces repeatedly came to the clubs, using various excuses to cover our faces and wear hijab, modest clothing. One day, I arrived to find the club locked, and the gates closed to women and girls. Some of my students had to make their way back home from behind the closed gates.”
Maryam adds that her livelihood increased by earning from the club. Currently, she is in dire economic straits, facing harsh conditions during the winter months. Despite the weather not yet warming up and winter making its second appearance, she is worried about her children and herself. Throughout the winter, they had no heater and used steam from boiling water for warmth. They would fill the kettle with water, plug it in, and make use of the warmth from the kettle, while the electricity supply in Kabul is highly erratic, leaving us with only 8 hours of full power out of 24 hours.
She recounts experiencing foot problems during the winter, prompting her to seek medical attention. The doctor diagnosed her with rheumatism, advising her to seek timely treatment, or else her feet would fail completely. However, she lacks the means to afford the hefty medical expenses.
Another female athlete named Laila, who has been active in the sports sector for several years, shares her story. With the arrival of the Taliban, sports clubs and centers were shut down, leading her to repeatedly approach the authorities for permission to continue activities for women with disabilities who cannot stand or move properly. However, to her utter disbelief, the authorities denied her the opportunity to engage in such activities. She was forced to clandestinely continue her previous activities (sports) in a corner of Kabul. Despite having few students and requesting her students to enter and exit the club one by one out of fear of the Taliban, she persevered to ensure no one would doubt her actions.
Laila expresses her concern that if she does not continue her activities, her six children will be left hungry, as household expenses fall solely on her shoulders.
Zahra, a 48-year-old woman, has been experiencing knee problems for a year. Upon consulting a doctor, she was advised to exercise for an hour daily to prevent stiffening of her knee bones. Despite this, she walks for about an hour to reach the secret club where Mrs. Laila trains.
She explains that without exercising, she is unable to properly use her legs to perform household chores and tasks. She even struggles to pray while seated.
Another woman named Sakina, who has been diagnosed with diabetes for about six years, found solace in the club for her treatment. She mentions that attending the club helps regulate her blood sugar levels, and if she fails to do so, her condition worsens, causing concern for herself, her family, and her children. “In essence, I am compelled to exercise to survive.”
With the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, not only they deprived women and girls of their fundamental rights, including education, work, and social activities, but they have also stripped them of the opportunity to engage in sports.
- نویسنده : Afghanistan Women News Agency
- منبع خبر : Afghanistan Women News Agency
