Islamabad – August 13, 2025- On the fourth anniversary of Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban, Afghanistan women’s protest movements in exile gathered in Islamabad to commemorate four years of resistance and to reaffirm their commitment to the struggle for women’s rights. Organized with the financial support of FORUM-ASIA, the event brought together dozens of Afghan women from different generations and cities, united by their shared experience of displacement and defiance.
The venue was modest, yet filled with a palpable sense of solidarity. Women in diverse attire – from colorful local chadors to simple headscarves – sat side by side, each carrying a story of exile, endurance, and hope. Before the formal opening, the smell of fresh tea and the murmur of short conversations gave the hall a warm, human atmosphere.
Opening Session
The gathering began with welcoming remarks from the host, who stated: “This program is to document the story of the fall, remember the resistance, and build hope for a free tomorrow.” A short documentary was then screened, showing chaotic scenes from Kabul, women chanting slogans in crowded streets, and faces that stood firm despite the dangers. The silence in the hall was broken only by heavy breaths and the occasional sound of muffled sobs.
Next, a group of young women performed a protest theater piece reenacting the political deal in Doha that handed power to the Taliban. Using light, movement, and dialogue, the performance portrayed the injustice and betrayal felt by the Afghan people, and was met with prolonged applause.
Panel One: Four Years of Women’s Imprisonment – From Resistance to Rewriting Destiny
- Rahil Talash, was the first speaker of the conference. Opening her remarks with a piercing question, she asked: “Four years after the fall—will the world awaken?” This question echoed not only the pain and resistance of Afghan women but also stood as a moral call, challenging the global conscience to responsibility and action.
- Hoda Khamosh, women’s rights activist, described Afghanistan as “a vast prison for women”, stressing that restrictions have penetrated not only public spaces but even private homes.
- Fatima Etimadi emphasized the need for solidarity and strong connections between women’s movements inside and outside the country.
- Shahlla Arifi shared, with visible emotion, the heavy personal costs of protest – from security pressures to the harsh realities of life in exile.
Special Segment
Midway through the program, Elahe Rizaei read a letter from a girl barred from education: “We are left behind closed doors, and all we can do is write our dreams of the future.” This was followed by a collective reading of resistance poems, shifting the mood from sorrow to solidarity.
Panel Two: Afghanistan Forgotten or a Shameless World?
- Nasreen Faramarz called for the prosecution of Taliban crimes at the International Court of Justice.
- Zohal Rad stressed the international community’s responsibility to ensure girls’ education.
Panel Three: Youth and Migration
- Safia Arifi spoke about the opportunities and challenges facing young Afghans in exile.
- Ramzia Sayeedi recounted her migration journey through Iran, Pakistan, and Europe.
- Nazanin Mohseini warned that neglecting the young generation could turn them into a “lost generation.”
Symbol of Protest
On this day, several women wore specially designed uniforms bearing the slogan #EndGenderApartheidInAfghanistan across their chests and backs – sending a clear message to the world: systemic gender apartheid in Afghanistan must end. Images of this moment quickly circulated on social media.
Closing and Impact
In the final session, Fahima Zahid summarized the panel discussions, and during an “open mic” segment, women who had not yet spoken shared their personal stories directly with the audience. The closing resolution, read aloud amid collective chanting, reaffirmed the women’s determination to continue their struggle.
This gathering served not only as a reminder of the pain and resistance of the past four years but also as a declaration: Afghan women, even in exile, continue to write, to fight, and to redefine their destiny.
