Five years have passed since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan following the collapse of the government in August 2021. Canada has provided refuge to more than 60,000 Afghan individuals, including Farkhunda Hashimy, who arrived in Saskatoon with her family in 2023. Hashimy, who was a high school student in Kabul during the regime change, reminisced about the freedoms she had before the Taliban’s rise to power. She recalled her aspirations for higher education and a career, which were abruptly halted by the Taliban’s ban on women pursuing such opportunities.
According to the United Nations, the Taliban has implemented over 100 decrees that severely affect the daily lives of women and girls in Afghanistan. Prior to the Taliban’s rule, over 100,000 women were enrolled in higher education, but now girls are restricted from education beyond Grade 6. Natasha Arnpriester, a senior legal counsel at the Open Society Justice Initiative, highlighted the stark contrast in women’s rights before and after the Taliban’s takeover. She emphasized the significant regression in women’s rights under the new regime’s interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture.
In Afghanistan, women are not only barred from secondary and higher education, but they also face restrictions on movement, dress code, and public speech. These limitations have had a detrimental impact on women’s ability to pursue education, employment, and healthcare. Arnpriester condemned the Taliban’s policies as a distortion of Islamic law and Afghan traditions, leading to what the United Nations has described as the most severe women’s rights crisis globally.
Hashimy’s family sought safety outside Afghanistan due to escalating threats faced by her sister in Kabul. With assistance from the 30 Birds Foundation, dedicated to rescuing Afghan women and girls, they found refuge in Saskatoon. Hashimy expressed her gratitude towards the foundation for saving her family and providing them with a new beginning in Canada. She described her arrival in Canada as a feeling of security, enabling her to pursue her educational and career aspirations freely. Currently studying urban planning at the University of Saskatchewan, Hashimy remains connected to her homeland, expressing solidarity with Afghan women and girls still living under oppressive conditions.
As she progresses in her academic journey, Hashimy aims to contribute to Canada’s development and hopes to support women in Afghanistan in the future. Her determination to make a difference stems from her shared identity and experiences with women in her homeland, driving her to strive for a better future for all.